162. e-waste excavation: mining gold from old phones (ks3)
Uncover the hidden treasures inside old smartphones and learn how extracting gold and metals from e-waste reduces the need for destructive mining.
Did you know there is real gold hidden inside your old smartphone? Devices are packed with precious metals that can be reused. Today, we are going on an e-waste excavation. We will look inside old electronics to see what valuable materials they hold and learn why "urban mining" is much better for the Earth than digging new holes in the ground.
E-Waste Excavation: Mining for Gold in Old Phones
The Treasure in Your Pocket
Your smartphone might seem like a single, solid object, but it's actually a complex sandwich of tiny, valuable components. To make it work, manufacturers use a range of precious metals. There's copper for the wiring, lithium in the battery, and even tiny amounts of silver and gold on the circuit boards because they are excellent electrical conductors.
When you upgrade your phone, what happens to the old one? For millions of devices, the answer is that they end up in a drawer or, worse, in a bin. This mountain of discarded electronics is known as electronic waste, or e-waste.
The Problem with Landfill
Throwing e-waste into a landfill is a disaster for the environment. The devices contain toxic materials like lead and mercury, which can leak out and contaminate soil and water. At the same time, all those precious metals are just sitting there, completely wasted. To get more gold or copper for new phones, companies have to dig massive mines, which destroys natural habitats, uses huge amounts of energy, and can involve unethical labour practices.
Welcome to the Urban Mine
What if, instead of digging new mines, we could 'mine' the millions of old phones we've already thrown away? This is the clever idea behind urban mining. It's the process of safely dismantling old electronics to extract and recycle the valuable materials inside.
Specialised recycling plants can shred devices and use powerful magnets, chemical processes, and sorting technologies to separate the different elements. The recovered gold, silver, and copper can then be melted down and reused to make brand new products. This is a form of circular economy, where we reuse materials again and again instead of just taking, making, and disposing of them. Urban mining not only reduces the need for destructive traditional mining but also prevents toxic chemicals from poisoning our planet. That old phone in your drawer isn't just waste - it's a valuable resource waiting to be excavated.
Comprehension Questions
Make sure you have read the passage carefully. Grab yourself a piece of lined paper and put your name, class and date at the top. Attempt the questions following questions making sure to answer in full sentences.
Knowledge, recall, identification
1
What is the name given to the mountain of discarded electronics?
2
Name two precious metals, mentioned in the article, that are found inside a smartphone.
3
What is the name of the process for extracting valuable materials from old electronics?
Analysis & Interpretation
4
Explain why throwing e-waste into a landfill is described as a "disaster for the environment".
5
In your own words, analyse the difference between traditional mining and urban mining.
6
Why does the article refer to an old phone as a "valuable resource"?
Synthesis & Creation
7
Suggest a three-step process a school could follow to set up its own phone recycling collection point.
8
Create a catchy slogan for a campaign to encourage people to participate in urban mining.
9
Other than smartphones, list three other electronic items you might find in a typical home that could be 'mined' for materials.
Evaluation & Justification
10
Evaluate the two main benefits of urban mining. Which do you think is the most important, and why?
11
To what extent do you believe phone manufacturers should be responsible for recycling the products they sell? Justify your opinion.
12
Discuss the main challenges that a recycling company might face when trying to carry out urban mining on millions of different types of devices.
Plugged Task: Urban Mining Infographic
A local environmental charity wants to launch a campaign to encourage people to recycle their old gadgets. They have hired you to create a powerful, one-page infographic that explains the concept of 'urban mining' and shows why it's so important.
The Persona
You are The Sustainable Technologist. Your mission is to use your digital skills to communicate complex environmental issues in a clear and persuasive way, encouraging people to make greener choices.
1
Research your facts
Before you design anything, you need powerful data. Your infographic must be based on facts, not guesswork.
Use the stimulus material and the links below to find at least three shocking or surprising statistics about e-waste and urban mining.
Read some articles from the BBC about the scale of the problem.
Recycle Your Electricals has some great information on what can be recycled.
Act as a science teacher. Explain the concept of 'urban mining' to a Key Stage 3 student. Limit the response to 100 words. Use a simple, encouraging tone. Use an analogy to explain it. NO intro, NO outro, NO deviation from the topic, NO follow-up questions
2
Plan your design
Good design is all about clear communication. Grab a piece of paper and sketch a rough layout for your infographic.
How will you use a title, images, and text to grab attention?
Where will you place your key statistics to have the most impact?
What visual style will you use? (e.g., cartoon, photographic, simple icons).
3
Build your infographic
Now it's time to build your design using digital tools.
Use a free online tool like Canva or presentation software like PowerPoint or Google Slides.
Choose a template or start from a blank A4 page.
Combine powerful images with your factual statistics. Make sure the text is easy to read.
Your goal is to persuade someone to act, so include a clear 'Call to Action' like "Find your nearest recycling point!"
Outcome
Your finished infographic is a single page (A4).
It has a clear, attention-grabbing headline.
It includes at least three verifiable facts or statistics about e-waste.
It uses a combination of text and images to communicate the message.
It includes a clear call to action, telling the reader what they should do next.
Unplugged Task: The E-Waste Amnesty Poster
Your school is organising an 'E-Waste Amnesty Day' where students and teachers can bring in old, unwanted small electronics for safe recycling.
Your task is to design an A4 poster on paper to advertise the event.
1
Grab a piece of plain paper and some coloured pens or pencils.
2
Design a powerful, eye-catching headline that will make people stop and read.
3
Include at least one shocking fact about e-waste that you learned from the stimulus material.
4
Draw a simple but effective image that represents e-waste (e.g., a pile of old gadgets, a circuit board).
5
Make sure you clearly state the date, time, and location for the collection event.
6
The goal is to make people take action, so make your poster as persuasive as possible!
Last modified: June 18th, 2026
