If you take a closer look at the medals that were worn by Olympians at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, you’ll see they are a little greener than you’d expect.
Medals at the Games are the first to be made containing gold, silver and copper recovered from e-waste recycling.
That’s right, the recycled parts from that old computer you threw out last year might be hanging around the neck of one of your favorite Olympians.
Teck Resources, a Vancouver-based company, supplied all of the recycled metals used for the production of the winning medals for the Games. Teck also provided the gold, silver and copper used to make up the rest of the medals sourced by its mining from around the world.
“Our employees worldwide are honored to supply the metals for the medals that will be cherished by the world’s best winter athletes in 2010,” said Teck’s president and CEO, Don Lindsay. “We’re also excited that these medals will contain recycled metal recovered from end-of-life electronics, consistent with the sustainability philosophy of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
While only a small percentage of the medals contain sustainable materials, according to a press release by Teck Resources, this is the first time in history that recycled metals have been used in the winning medals.
According to Teck, e-waste only makes up 1.52 percent for gold, 0.122 percent for silver, and 1.11 percent for copper for the medals.
The Royal Canadian Mint used 6.8 metric tons of recycled electronics to make 1,014 medals during the summer 2009 and finished in November. The medals will also be used for the Paralympic Winter Games.
“The Mint assembled a tremendous pool of talented engineers, engravers, die technicians, and press operators to channel decades of experience into bringing the Vancouver 2010 medals to life,” said Ian E. Bennett, president and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. “These medals are the pinnacle of metal fabrication and craftsmanship and worthy tributes to the athletes who will triumph here mere months from now.”