Precision starts with proper material handling
Every material that enters our facility begins its journey in the electronic material classification department, a critical first step in maximizing recovery, protecting valuable assets, and ensuring efficient downstream processing. From material triage and dismantling to segregation and secure handling, our team is focused on preparing each shipment for the safest and most effective recovery path possible.
Managing complex, mixed, and sensitive materials with precision
At Sibanye-Stillwater Recycling operations, our electronic material classification department combines hands-on expertise with strict operational controls to manage complex, mixed, and sensitive materials with precision. By properly identifying, preparing, and routing materials from the start, we help improve recovery yields, reduce processing risks, and maintain complete chain-of-custody integrity throughout the recycling process.
As recycling streams become more complex and material compositions more diverse, proper separation and classification have never been more important. Efficient front-end processing not only improves precious metal recovery — it also strengthens security, compliance, and operational efficiency across the entire recovery workflow.
Optimize recovery
We support manufacturers, recyclers, OEMs, and technology companies with secure, compliant, and highly controlled material preparation services.
Material triage
Every incoming shipment is carefully evaluated to determine:
- Material composition and condition
- Processing requirements
- Safety and handling considerations
- Appropriate downstream recovery path
Proper triage minimizes risk, improves efficiency, and ensures materials are directed to the optimal recovery process from the very beginning.
Manual dismantling
Complex assemblies often require specialized handling, including:
- Hand separation of multi-component materials
- Recovery of embedded valuable components
- Processing of non-standard or delicate assemblies
- Preparation of materials unsuitable for automated systems
Our manual dismantling capabilities allow us to recover materials that might otherwise be overlooked or lost in conventional processing environments.
De-boxing and de-packaging
Shipment preparation is essential to efficient recovery, including:
- Removal of external packaging materials
- Separation of containment materials
- Elimination of non-processable waste
- Preparation of target materials for processing
This ensures cleaner recovery streams, improved processing efficiency, and reduced contamination risk.
Material segregation
Mixed and non-homogeneous materials are carefully separated by:
- Material type and composition
- Processing compatibility
- Precious metal content
- Downstream recovery requirements
Proper segregation helps optimize recovery rates while supporting accurate sampling, refining, and settlement reporting.
Unknown material identification
Not all materials arrive fully identified or documented. Our team works closely with internal specialists and Materials Review personnel to:
- Assess unknown materials safely
- Determine proper handling requirements
- Identify appropriate recovery pathways
- Ensure full accountability throughout the process
No material is left unaccounted for, regardless of how it arrives at our facility.
Intellectual property (IP) protection
Sensitive materials and proprietary technologies are handled under strict controls, including:
Secure handling procedures
Restricted material access
Controlled processing environments
Protection of proprietary components and designs
Our protocols help manufacturers, OEMs, and technology companies protect valuable intellectual property throughout the recycling process.
Material segregation
Mixed and non-homogeneous materials are carefully separated by:
- Material type and composition
- Processing compatibility
- Precious metal content
- Downstream recovery requirements
Proper segregation helps optimize recovery rates while supporting accurate sampling, refining, and settlement reporting.
Know your metals
The Know your metals resource helps you understand how precious metals are used across industries. Explore each metal’s commercial applications, the types of waste streams it commonly appears in, and the recovery technologies used to reclaim it.
Au
Gold
Ag
Silver
Pt
Platinum
Pd
Palladium
Rh
Rhodium
Ir
Iridium
Gold
Gold is a critical precious metal valued for its excellent conductivity, corrosion resistance, and stability, with extensive use in semiconductor fabrication, electroplating, connector fabrication and assembly, medical device and jewelry manufacturing.
Gold frequently occurs in industrial waste streams such as spent plating solutions, filters, resin, sludges, stamping scrap, contact pins and karat jewelry.
Silver
Silver is a widely used precious metal known for its high electrical conductivity, antimicrobial properties, and reflectivity, making it essential in microelectronics, medical applications, film coating, chemical processing, jewelry manufacturing, electroplating and stamping industries.
Silver-bearing waste streams often include spent plating baths, filters, sludges and stampings.
Explore silver-bearing waste streams:
Platinum
Platinum is a critical precious metal widely used in pharmaceutical catalysts, jewelry manufacturing, automotive catalytic converters, fuel cell/electrolyzer applications, fiberglass manufacturing, and the aircraft/aerospace, microelectronics and medical industries.
Due to its chemical stability and catalytic properties, platinum frequently appears in industrial waste streams such as spent catalyst, acidic process solutions, plating baths, filter media, implantable medical components, fiberglass bushings and refractory, fuel cell MEAs, thermocouple wire, machining kerf, shavings and turnings.
Explore platinum-bearing waste streams:
- Jewellery manufacture
- Discarded electronic devices and electronics manufacturing
- Electroplating operations
- Medical device manufacturing and healthcare operations
- Defense manufacturing and maintenance operations
- Glass manufacturing
- Pharmaceuticals manufacture
- Industrial catalysts
- Automotive catalytic converters
- Nitric acid manufacture
Palladium
Palladium is a precious metal widely used in automotive catalytic converters, specialty chemical catalyst, conductive pastes, microelectronics/ceramic capacitors.
Owing to its excellent catalytic performance and electrical conductivity, palladium is commonly found in industrial waste streams such as spent catalysts, sludges, filter media, fired/green ceramic, thick film wipes & jars, canned/decanned catalytic converters and spent environmental catalysts.
Explore palladium-bearing waste streams:
- Jewellery manufacture
- Discarded electronic devices and electronics manufacturing
- Electroplating operations
- Medical device manufacturing and healthcare operations
- Defense manufacturing and maintenance operations
- Pharmaceuticals manufacture
- Industrial catalysts
- Automotive catalytic converters
- Nitric acid manufacture
Rhodium
Rhodium is a rare and valuable precious metal primarily used in automotive catalytic converters, chemical catalysts, fiberglass manufacturing, and plating industries.
Its high reflectivity and resistance to corrosion result in rhodium being found in waste streams including catalytic converters, spent plating baths, filters, fiberglass bushings and refractory.
Explore rhodium-bearing waste streams:
Iridium
Iridium is an extremely durable and corrosion-resistant precious metal used in chemical processing equipment, fuel cell manufacturing, specialty catalyst, and medical devices.
Due to its use in high-temperature and highly corrosive environments, iridium is commonly found in waste streams including electrolyzer scrap, spent coating solutions, spent catalyst and filters, medical device components such as electrodes, marker bands and cath tips.
Explore iridium-bearing waste streams:
Controlled handling. Optimized recovery.
Effective precious metal recovery begins long before refining. Proper separation, preparation, and secure handling ensure that valuable materials are protected, processed efficiently, and recovered to their full potential.
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Mechanical reduction
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Thermal reduction
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Wet chemistry
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Precious metal melt
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Electronic material classification
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Auto catalyst recycling
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Cleaning & recovery
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Bead blasting
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Granulation
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Transportation & logistics
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Analytical laboratory
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Partner with Sibanye-Stillwater recycling operations
We support our partners with customized recycling programs aligned to their business and sustainability goals. Our analytical expertise provides confidence, transparency, and precision—helping customers convert complex materials into measurable value.
