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Germany

Mining Mobile Phones For The Industrial Metals Within

Cell phones contain trace amounts of gold, silver, copper and other valuable minerals. Lawmakers in Germany are cluing into these hidden treasures, but haven't yet come up with an effective way to harvest them.

(cogdogblog)
(cogdogblog)

*NEWSBITES

Germans are hoarding nearly two tons of gold – without even realizing it. The costly metal is hidden away in some 80 million no-longer-used mobile phones, each phone containing about 25 milligrams. Add it up and that comes to around 80 million euros worth.

The hidden treasure is beginning to draw attention from both industry and government. "Mobile phones that are no longer in use are a real storehouse of primary materials," says Parliamentary State Secretary Katherina Reiche. Gold is just one of the approximately 60 different materials built into mobiles, which also contain silver and copper. Approximately 80% of those minerals could be reused. A million mobiles harbor 150 kilos of silver and several tons of copper.

Even if quantities in each individual phone are minimal, says Bernhard Rohleder, general manager of Bitko, a high tech association, it adds up and could help considerably in dealing with the problem of dwindling natural resources. Lead, nickel, bismuth, tin, antimony and iridium are also used in mobile phones. Presently some 3% of silver resources worldwide, and 4% of gold, is being used in the manufacture of mobile phones.

So far, however, Germans have shown themselves reluctant to part with their old phones: it is estimated that only 3% of mobile phones are recycled. Even if they are willing to turn over their used mobiles, Germany doesn't have the necessary systems in place to receive and collect the devices. Then there's the logistical problem of how exactly to extract the valuable metals. According to experts, it will take five to 10 years before a recycling system for rare earths can be built up in Europe.

Read the full story in German by Thomas Heuzeroth

Photo - cogdogblog

*Newsbites are digest items, not direct translations

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Society

Sleep Divorce: The Benefits For Couples In Having Separate Beds

Sleeping separately is often thought to be the beginning of the end for a loving couple. But studies show that having permanently separate beds — if you have the space and means — can actually reinforce the bonds of a relationship.

Image of a woman sleeping in a bed.

A woman sleeping in her bed.

BUENOS AIRES — Couples, it is assumed, sleep together — and sleeping apart is easily taken as a sign of a relationship gone cold. But several recent studies are suggesting, people sleep better alone and "sleep divorce," as the habit is being termed, can benefit both a couple's health and intimacy.

That is, if you have the space for it...

While sleeping in separate beds is seen as unaffectionate and the end of sex, psychologist María Gabriela Simone told Clarín this "is not a fashion, but to do with being able to feel free, and to respect yourself and your partner."

She says the marriage bed originated "in the matrimonial duty of sharing a bed with the aim of having sex to procreate." That, she adds, gradually settled the idea that people "who love each other sleep together."

Is it an imposition then, or an overwhelming preference? Simone says intimacy is one thing, sleeping another.

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