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Do you dispose of your smartphone or your computer when you get a new one? British scientists think we should be recycling, rather than discarding, our 'e-waste' because devices such as iPads and smartphones are full of precious metals that could run out in the next century.聽

Dr John Broderick, Net Zero Programme Manager at the Royal Society of Chemistry, explains the process of the 'circular economy', where elements in our electronic waste could be recovered, to save on mining fresh materials. An example of a precious metal that could be hard to find in the future is indium tin oxide, which enables touch-screen functionality, and is used in mobile phones and flat-screen TVs.

Photo: Using a touch-screen on a mobile phone. Credit: Getty Images