Deep Sea Mining Targeted By Activists At London Conference

$21 billion of silver and gold locked away in e-products each year and electronic waste contains precious metal “deposits” 40 to 50 times richer than ores mine.[6] Australian scientists have found that 1 tonne of old mobile phones contain about 100 kilograms of copper, three kilos of silver and 200 grams of gold.[7]
According to Ms Lowrey, “Australian researchers have demonstrated that “urban mining” of e-waste will become a reality over the next decade - a similar time frame to the operationalisation of deep sea mining.”
“Urban mining will be more lucrative than deep sea mining and will deal with an otherwise intractable waste problem in a much more responsible manner.”
“The expense and risks of deep sea mining cannot be justified while there is a profitable, socially and environmentally beneficial alternative to satisfy society’s needs for the same metals.”
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1308/S00016/deep-sea-mining-targeted-by-activists-at-london-conference.htm