The Royal Mint, known for producing the UK’s coins, has embarked on an innovative initiative to process electronic waste (e-waste) in order to extract gold. This move is part of a larger effort to address the growing problem of discarded electronic devices, which the United Nations reported amounted to 62 million tonnes in 2022. With projections indicating that this figure could increase by approximately one-third by 2030, the Royal Mint has established a large industrial facility in Llantrisant, Wales, dedicated to recovering precious metals from old circuit boards. Initially, the extracted gold will be utilized to create jewelry, with plans to eventually produce commemorative coins.

At the Royal Mint’s new plant, the process of extracting gold from e-waste begins with the heating of circuit boards to separate their various components. As these materials move along a conveyor belt, they undergo a meticulous sorting and processing procedure that includes sieving, slicing, and dicing. The head of sustainability, Inga Doak, describes this effort as “urban mining,” emphasizing the importance of recognizing the value in waste products generated by society. The goal is to recover gold from these discarded items, thereby highlighting the finite nature of this precious resource.

Once the gold-laden components are identified, they are sent to an on-site chemical plant where a special solution is used to leach the gold from the materials. This process is notable for its low energy requirements and the fact that it operates at room temperature, making it more environmentally friendly compared to traditional gold recovery methods that often rely on toxic chemicals and high energy consumption. The result is a powder that contains pure gold, which can be transformed into a gleaming nugget through heating in a furnace.

The Royal Mint aims to process over 4,000 tonnes of e-waste each year, which is expected to yield approximately 450 kilograms of gold, valued at around £27 million based on current market prices. This shift towards e-waste processing represents a significant change for the Royal Mint, which has been the official coin maker for over a millennium. With the decline in cash usage, the company is diversifying its operations to remain financially viable and preserve jobs for its workforce.

In addition to gold recovery, the Royal Mint is exploring ways to repurpose other materials extracted from circuit boards, such as aluminum, copper, tin, and steel. There is also interest in investigating whether ground-up circuit boards could be utilized in the construction industry. This comprehensive approach not only addresses the issue of e-waste but also contributes to sustainable practices by maximizing the use of available resources.

Original news source: Royal Mint starts turning e-waste into gold (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Each team takes turns sending one member to act out key phrases or concepts from the article without speaking, while their teammates guess what it is. This will help students recall important information and vocabulary related to the article.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Pose several thought-provoking questions related to the article, such as “Do you think electronic waste should be processed for precious metals?” or “What are the pros and cons of urban mining?” Have students walk around the classroom and ask their classmates for their opinions, recording the responses to discuss later.

– MIND MAP
Instructions: Have students create a mind map on a large sheet of paper or a whiteboard based on the article. They should identify key themes such as “e-waste,” “gold extraction,” and “sustainability,” and branch out with related ideas, processes, and implications. This visual representation will aid in understanding the article’s main concepts.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: Ask students to come up with catchy headlines for the article that encapsulate its main ideas. They should think of different angles, such as the environmental impact, technological innovation, or economic aspects. Afterward, students can share their headlines and discuss the effectiveness of each.

– FUTURE PREDICTIONS
Instructions: Have students predict what the future might look like for e-waste processing and the Royal Mint in the next ten years. They should consider advancements in technology, changes in consumer behavior, and environmental policies. Students can share their predictions in small groups and discuss the feasibility of each idea.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What innovative initiative has the Royal Mint undertaken to address the issue of electronic waste?
2. How much electronic waste was reported by the United Nations in 2022, and what are the projections for 2030?
3. Describe the initial use of the extracted gold from e-waste at the Royal Mint.
4. What does Inga Doak mean by referring to the gold extraction process as “urban mining”?
5. Explain the process used at the Royal Mint to extract gold from circuit boards.
6. What are the environmental benefits of the gold extraction method employed by the Royal Mint compared to traditional methods?
7. How much e-waste does the Royal Mint aim to process each year, and what is the expected yield of gold from this?
8. Besides gold recovery, what other materials is the Royal Mint interested in repurposing from e-waste?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

The Royal Mint, known for producing the UK’s coins, has embarked on an innovative initiative to process electronic waste (e-waste) in order to (1)______ gold. This move is part of a (2)______r effort to address the growing problem of discarded electronic devices, which the United Nations reported amounted to 62 million tonnes in 2022. With projections indicating that this figure could increase by approximately one-third by 2030, the Royal Mint has established a large industrial (3)______ in Llantrisant, Wales, dedicated to recovering precious metals from old circuit boards. Initially, the extracted gold will be utilized to create (4)______, with plans to eventually produce commemorative coins.

At the Royal Mint’s new plant, the process of extracting gold from e-waste begins with the heating of circuit boards to separate their various components. As these materials move along a conveyor belt, they undergo a meticulous sorting and (5)______ procedure that includes sieving, slicing, and dicing. The head of sustainability, Inga Doak, describes this effort as “urban mining,” emphasizing the (6)______ of recognizing the value in waste products (7)______ by (8)______. The goal is to recover gold from these discarded items, thereby highlighting the finite nature of this precious resource.

Once the gold-laden components are identified, they are sent to an on-site chemical plant where a (9)______ solution is used to leach the gold from the materials. This process is notable for its low energy requirements and the fact that it operates at room temperature, making it more environmentally friendly compared to traditional gold (10)______ methods that often rely on toxic chemicals and high energy consumption. The (11)______ is a powder that contains pure gold, which can be transformed into a gleaming nugget through (12)______ in a furnace.

The Royal Mint aims to process over 4,000 tonnes of e-waste each year, which is expected to yield approximately 450 kilograms of gold, valued at around £27 million based on current market prices. This shift towards e-waste processing represents a significant change for the Royal Mint, which has been the official coin maker for over a millennium. With the decline in cash usage, the company is diversifying its operations to remain financially viable and preserve jobs for its workforce.

In addition to gold recovery, the Royal Mint is exploring ways to repurpose (13)______ materials extracted from circuit boards, such as aluminum, copper, tin, and (14)______. There is also interest in investigating whether ground-up circuit boards could be (15)______ in the construction industry. This comprehensive (16)______ not only addresses the issue of e-waste but also contributes to sustainable practices by maximizing the use of available resources.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is your opinion on the importance of recycling electronic waste?
2. How would you feel if you found out that your old electronics could be turned into valuable materials?
3. Do you think that companies should be responsible for recycling the products they create? Why or why not?
4. What is a sustainable practice that you personally follow in your daily life?
5. How do you think the rise of electronic waste impacts the environment?
6. Do you like the idea of using recycled materials to create new products, such as jewelry or coins? Why?
7. How would you feel if you were offered a piece of jewelry made from recycled gold?
8. Do you think that the concept of “urban mining” will become more popular in the future? Why or why not?
9. What is your experience with recycling in your country? Is it encouraged or easy to do?
10. How do you think awareness about e-waste can be improved among the general public?
11. Do you think the Royal Mint’s initiative will inspire other companies to adopt similar practices? Why?
12. What is a challenge you think companies face when trying to implement sustainable practices?
13. How would you feel if you had to give up using electronic devices to reduce e-waste?
14. Do you think that the government should provide incentives for companies that focus on sustainability? Why or why not?
15. What is your perspective on the balance between technological advancement and environmental sustainability?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. embarked
2. initiative
3. projections
4. facility
5. commemorative
6. meticulous
7. sustainability
8. finite
9. leach
10. viable
11. repurpose
12. comprehensive
13. discarded
14. gleaning
15. diversify

Meanings:
(A) Thrown away or abandoned
(B) To extract a substance from a material, often using a liquid
(C) To adapt or use something for a different purpose
(D) Limited in quantity or availability
(E) Predictions or estimates about future trends or outcomes
(F) To expand into new areas or activities to reduce risk or increase opportunities
(G) Capable of working successfully; feasible
(H) A place or building designed for a specific purpose
(I) A new plan or process to achieve something or solve a problem
(J) Began a journey or started a new project
(K) Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise
(L) Thorough and all-encompassing in scope or content
(M) Extracting or collecting valuable items from a source
(N) Intended to honor or remember a particular event or person
(O) The ability to maintain or support an activity over the long term
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What initiative has the Royal Mint embarked on?
(a) Producing new coins
(b) Processing electronic waste to extract gold
(c) Reducing cash circulation
(d) Opening new branches

2. How much electronic waste was reported by the United Nations in 2022?
(a) 50 million tonnes
(b) 70 million tonnes
(c) 62 million tonnes
(d) 80 million tonnes

3. Where is the Royal Mint’s new industrial facility located?
(a) Llantrisant, Wales
(b) London, England
(c) Edinburgh, Scotland
(d) Dublin, Ireland

4. What is the initial use of the extracted gold from e-waste?
(a) To mint new coins
(b) To make electronics
(c) To produce art
(d) To create jewelry

5. What term does Inga Doak use to describe the effort of recovering gold from waste?
(a) Waste management
(b) Resource recovery
(c) Recycling
(d) Urban mining

6. What is notable about the gold extraction process at the Royal Mint?
(a) It requires high energy consumption
(b) It uses toxic chemicals
(c) It operates at room temperature
(d) It is done manually

7. How much e-waste does the Royal Mint aim to process each year?
(a) Over 4,000 tonnes
(b) 2,000 tonnes
(c) 1,000 tonnes
(d) 5,000 tonnes

8. Besides gold, what other materials is the Royal Mint exploring to repurpose?
(a) Plastic and glass
(b) Aluminum, copper, tin, and steel
(c) Paper and cardboard
(d) Rubber and textiles

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The Royal Mint has not established a facility in Llantrisant, Wales, specifically for recovering precious metals from old circuit boards.
2. The Royal Mint is processing electronic waste to extract gold as part of an initiative to address the problem of discarded electronic devices.
3. The gold extraction method used by the Royal Mint is more environmentally friendly than traditional methods, as it operates at room temperature and requires less energy.
4. In 2022, the United Nations reported that 60 million tonnes of electronic waste were generated globally.
5. In addition to gold, the Royal Mint is looking into repurposing other materials from circuit boards, such as aluminum, copper, tin, and steel.
6. The extracted gold from e-waste will initially be used to create jewelry and later for commemorative coins.
7. The Royal Mint plans to process under 4,000 tonnes of e-waste annually, aiming to recover approximately 450 grams of gold.
8. The process of extracting gold involves cooling circuit boards and sorting their components through various methods.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What innovative initiative has the Royal Mint undertaken to address the problem of electronic waste?
2. How does the Royal Mint’s process of extracting gold from e-waste differ from traditional gold recovery methods?
3. What are the projected annual processing goals for e-waste at the Royal Mint, and how much gold do they expect to yield from this?
4. In what ways is the Royal Mint planning to repurpose materials extracted from circuit boards beyond gold recovery?
5. How does the Royal Mint’s shift towards e-waste processing reflect broader trends in cash usage and job preservation?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What innovative initiative has the Royal Mint undertaken to address the issue of electronic waste?
The Royal Mint has embarked on an initiative to process electronic waste (e-waste) in order to extract gold from discarded electronic devices.

2. How much electronic waste was reported by the United Nations in 2022, and what are the projections for 2030?
The United Nations reported that 62 million tonnes of electronic waste were generated in 2022, with projections indicating that this figure could increase by approximately one-third by 2030.

3. Describe the initial use of the extracted gold from e-waste at the Royal Mint.
The extracted gold will initially be utilized to create jewelry, with plans to eventually produce commemorative coins.

4. What does Inga Doak mean by referring to the gold extraction process as “urban mining”?
Inga Doak refers to the gold extraction process as “urban mining” to emphasize the importance of recognizing the value in waste products generated by society.

5. Explain the process used at the Royal Mint to extract gold from circuit boards.
The process begins with heating circuit boards to separate their components, followed by a meticulous sorting and processing procedure that includes sieving, slicing, and dicing. Gold-laden components are then sent to an on-site chemical plant where a special solution is used to leach the gold from the materials.

6. What are the environmental benefits of the gold extraction method employed by the Royal Mint compared to traditional methods?
The gold extraction method used by the Royal Mint has low energy requirements and operates at room temperature, making it more environmentally friendly compared to traditional methods that often rely on toxic chemicals and high energy consumption.

7. How much e-waste does the Royal Mint aim to process each year, and what is the expected yield of gold from this?
The Royal Mint aims to process over 4,000 tonnes of e-waste each year, which is expected to yield approximately 450 kilograms of gold.

8. Besides gold recovery, what other materials is the Royal Mint interested in repurposing from e-waste?
The Royal Mint is exploring ways to repurpose other materials extracted from circuit boards, such as aluminum, copper, tin, and steel, and is also investigating the potential use of ground-up circuit boards in the construction industry.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) extract
(2) large
(3) facility
(4) jewelry
(5) processing
(6) importance
(7) generated
(8) society
(9) special
(10) recovery
(11) result
(12) heating
(13) other
(14) steel
(15) utilized
(16) approach
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. embarked
Answer: (J) Began a journey or started a new project

2. initiative
Answer: (I) A new plan or process to achieve something or solve a problem

3. projections
Answer: (E) Predictions or estimates about future trends or outcomes

4. facility
Answer: (H) A place or building designed for a specific purpose

5. commemorative
Answer: (N) Intended to honor or remember a particular event or person

6. meticulous
Answer: (K) Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise

7. sustainability
Answer: (O) The ability to maintain or support an activity over the long term

8. finite
Answer: (D) Limited in quantity or availability

9. leach
Answer: (B) To extract a substance from a material, often using a liquid

10. viable
Answer: (G) Capable of working successfully; feasible

11. repurpose
Answer: (C) To adapt or use something for a different purpose

12. comprehensive
Answer: (L) Thorough and all-encompassing in scope or content

13. discarded
Answer: (A) Thrown away or abandoned

14. gleaning
Answer: (M) Extracting or collecting valuable items from a source

15. diversify
Answer: (F) To expand into new areas or activities to reduce risk or increase opportunities
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What initiative has the Royal Mint embarked on?
Answer: (b) Processing electronic waste to extract gold

2. How much electronic waste was reported by the United Nations in 2022?
Answer: (c) 62 million tonnes

3. Where is the Royal Mint’s new industrial facility located?
Answer: (a) Llantrisant, Wales

4. What is the initial use of the extracted gold from e-waste?
Answer: (d) To create jewelry

5. What term does Inga Doak use to describe the effort of recovering gold from waste?
Answer: (d) Urban mining

6. What is notable about the gold extraction process at the Royal Mint?
Answer: (c) It operates at room temperature

7. How much e-waste does the Royal Mint aim to process each year?
Answer: (a) Over 4,000 tonnes

8. Besides gold, what other materials is the Royal Mint exploring to repurpose?
Answer: (b) Aluminum, copper, tin, and steel
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The Royal Mint has not established a facility in Llantrisant, Wales, specifically for recovering precious metals from old circuit boards. (Answer: False)
2. The Royal Mint is processing electronic waste to extract gold as part of an initiative to address the problem of discarded electronic devices. (Answer: True)
3. The gold extraction method used by the Royal Mint is more environmentally friendly than traditional methods, as it operates at room temperature and requires less energy. (Answer: True)
4. In 2022, the United Nations reported that 60 million tonnes of electronic waste were generated globally. (Answer: False)
5. In addition to gold, the Royal Mint is looking into repurposing other materials from circuit boards, such as aluminum, copper, tin, and steel. (Answer: True)
6. The extracted gold from e-waste will initially be used to create jewelry and later for commemorative coins. (Answer: True)
7. The Royal Mint plans to process under 4,000 tonnes of e-waste annually, aiming to recover approximately 450 grams of gold. (Answer: False)
8. The process of extracting gold involves cooling circuit boards and sorting their components through various methods. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧