A new type of circuit board material could help keep e-waste out of landfills, according to a new study by Virginia Tech researchers.
Often ending up in landfill, the toxic additives or hazardous substances within discarded electronic devices leach into soils and ecosystems.
Data from the UN’s Global e-waste monitor report published last year found that worldwide generation of e-waste is rising five times faster than documented e-waste recycling.
A record 62 billion kg of e-waste was generated globally in 2022 – up 82% from 2010, and on track to rise a further 32% (to 82 billion kg) in 2030.
To combat this ‘tsunami’ of e-waste, a team at Virginia Tech has been researching a new class of recyclable circuit materials to replace traditional circuit board plastics.
Combining expertise from disparate fields, Michael Bartlett, associate professor of mechanical engineering, and Josh Worch, assistant professor of chemistry, have created new circuits that are recyclable, electrically conductive...