43 / 80
THE I SR I SCRAP YEARBOOK
2016
INSTITUTE OF SCRAP RECYCLING INDUSTRIES, INC.
41
Precious metals such as gold, silver, and platinum have
long been valued as stores of wealth and for use in
producing coinage,
jewelry, and decorative
arts. Today, precious
metals are used in a wide
range of applications
including electronic
and communications
equipment, spacecraft, and jet aircraft engines and can be
found in everything from cell phones to catalytic converters.
Given the relative scarcity and high per-unit values of
precious metals, they continue to be recycled at a high rate
of recovery. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that 140
tons of new and old gold scrap and 1,200 tons of silver scrap
were recycled in the United States in 2015, slightly less than
the reported levels in 2014.
In addition, Census Bureau data indicate that more than
16,100 mt of precious metal scrap were exported from the
U.S. in 2015 valued at nearly $3.9 billion. See below for the
recent trend in U.S. secondary production (production from
new and old scrap) of gold and silver since 2011 according to
the USGS:
U.S. Secondary Production of Silver & Gold,
2011 - 2015 (metric tons)
263
215
210
200
140
1,710
1,660
1,700
1,400
1,200
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
1,600
1,800
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Gold Silver
Precious Metals