Runnymede Institute

“This plan will help UK businesses to better withstand any changes in both supply and price, make the most of emerging growth opportunities, create high-skilled jobs and compete on the world stage.” Business Secretary Vince Cable

The ‘world stage’ to which Mr. Cable refers is 15 of the largest waste dumps and a multitude of smaller operators already wading through the West’s garbage in search of something precious or re-usable to sell back. As government action plans go, this one too will pass under the radar but it reeks of desperation to come up with an original sounding economic plan while assuring England’s future paupers that unlike their Third World competitors, they can earn an accredited degree in Subsistence Surface Mining.

Ben Kilbey

The UK government has launched a new scheme aimed at recycling precious metals such as gold and platinum found in household goods like old mobile phones and laptops which are commonly scrapped, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said Friday.

Faced with a rising global demand for consumer goods and an increasing reliance on specialty metals from abroad, Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman published the Resource Security Action Plan to make sure UK businesses are more resilient to any changes in supply and price, and can make the most of new opportunities.

“Hundreds of millions of pounds worth of precious metals like gold and platinum are being thrown away in the UK every year when household goods such as old mobile phones and laptops are scrapped,” Defra said in a statement.

China produces over 95% of rare earth elements, with Russia and the Democratic Republic of Congo leading production of other key materials that are used in everyday technology such as mobile phones. Eighty percent of Chief Executives surveyed by EEF, the manufacturers’ organization, said that raw materials shortages were a risk to their business in 2012.

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