• JSE: SSW R49.07 +0.00%
  • NYSE:SBSW $12.26 +1.41%
  • GOLD:US$/oz $4,601.89 +0.21%
  • GOLD:ZAR/kg R2,366,173 +0.49%
  • PLATINUM:US$/oz $1,857.20 +0.69%
  • PALLADIUM:US$/oz $1,321.00 +0.23%
  • RHODIUM:US$/oz $8,850.00 +0.00%
  • ZAR:US$ R15.99 +0.28%
  • Last updated: Aug 27, 2026 at 10:08pm
Precious metal recycling Waste Streams

Plating industry

Reducing losses from baths, rinses, and residues with efficient, compliant recycling solutions.

Recover value from every layer

Plating operations rely heavily on precious metals such as gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. Throughout the plating process, valuable metals are lost through drag-out, rinse water, and bath contamination.

At Sibanye-Stillwater Recycling operations, we specialize in recovering precious metals from plating processes, helping operators reduce losses, extend bath life, and improve cost efficiency.

With metal prices remaining high, optimizing recovery from plating lines is critical. Efficient recycling reduces raw material demand and environmental impact.

We support plating facilities with reliable, compliant recovery solutions.

Identify hidden value across
your workflow

True recovery starts with knowing where precious metals are slipping through the cracks. These commonly overlooked areas of plating operations often hold more value than expected.

Plating 
baths

Key recovery sources include:

  • Spent plating solutions
  • Bath residues and sludges
  • Drag-out losses

Rinse 
systems

Often overlooked areas:

  • Rinse water contamination
  • Ion exchange resins
  • Filtration systems

Surface 
finishing

High-value materials found in:

  • Gold and silver plating residues
    Spent solutions and filters
    Rinse waters and sludge

Facility-wide 
waste

Additional recovery opportunities:

  • Dust from production floors
  • Used wipes, gloves, and filters
  • Scrap from rework and testing

Thin layers. Strong returns.

Even microscopic coatings can translate into meaningful value when recovered efficiently.

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Copper

Copper’s superior electrical and thermal conductivity, makes it essential in electrical wiring, electronics, and heat exchange applications.

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Silver

Silver is a naturally occurring chemical element and precious metal, symbolized by Ag (from the Latin argentum).

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about gold

Gold

Sibanye-Stillwater is the world’s third-largest producer of gold, whose appeal as an adornment has persisted over time

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