Brewer’s Waste Can Make Recycling E-Waste Easier
Humans have enjoyed beer for centuries, and now scientists have discovered the leftover yeast from brewing beer has a surprisingly eco-friendly purpose
I can’t explain it, but beer has been a favorite beverage of our species for over 10,000 years and remains popular worldwide today. The Pacific Northwest, where I was born and raised, is known for its craft beers. Breweries are everywhere here; there are at least 70 in Portland, Oregon alone — meaning you could go to a different brewery every month for five years and still not visit them all.
Brewing beer requires several stages and lots of patience; one batch can take two to eight weeks. While the finished product is tasty, the process leaves behind plenty of yeast byproducts. But now scientists have discovered that this discarded waste can be used to make recycling e-waste more efficient. This is a big deal because electronic waste is a growing problem.
The Challenge
Millions of electronic devices are discarded every year as cell phones, computers, televisions, and medical equipment become obsolete or replaced. These discarded devices are called “e-waste,” which the World Health Organization (WHO) says is the “fastest growing…
