How to Select an Environmentally Friendly Gold Buyer
Posted by Luis Marini on Wed, Jan 25, 2012 @ 10:29 AM
In a previous post, we discussed the importance of selling unused or unwanted precious metals to be recycled, refined and reused to reduce waste and help prevent the need for additional mining, which can cause a number of harmful effects to the environment.
Environmental Impacts of Refining
Now that you’ve decided to sell your precious metals to a trustworthy buyer, it’s important to understand what happens to your items once you’ve sold them.
Precious metals refining can also have negative effects on the environment when not handled properly. During the burning process, exhaust is emitted, which can pollute the air. In addition, acid solutions are often used to process precious metals, which emit poisonous gases and can pollute water. It is the responsibility of the company to have the appropriate controls in place to ensure that the refining process does not harm the environment.
Selecting a Responsible Gold Buyer
As a consumer, you can have a direct impact on the environmental effects of refining by choosing to sell your precious metals to a company that is proactive in its efforts to prevent damage to the environment.
When evaluating potential gold buyers, answering the following questions can help you select a buyer that makes the environment a top priority:
1. Does the buyer own a refinery?
While some companies will have a refinery in which they process the metals they directly purchase, many local pawn shops and online gold buying companies act as the “middle man,” and sell the items they purchase from you to a refinery. Regardless of who you sell to, most items containing precious metals will ultimately be melted down, and refined back to purity.
Find out if your potential buyer does in fact own a refinery, or if the company sells to a refinery, and who that company is.
Selling Tip: By selling direct to a refinery, you can eliminate the intermediary and earn higher payouts for your precious metals items.
2. What environmental controls does the refinery have in place?
Inquire how the refinery processes precious metals, and how they address air quality issues and disposal of toxic materials. This information should be readily available on the company’s website, and can be provided by a company representative upon request.
3. Does the refinery maintain industry and environmental certifications?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and individual states establish environmental standards for refining companies. Ask if the refinery maintains certifications from these key organizations, and if they have record of their compliance with industry standards.
Choosing Your Buyer Wisely
From selling price to reputation and customer service, there are many factors to consider when selecting a gold buyer you can trust. By understanding what happens to your precious metals after the transaction is complete, you can select a trustworthy company, and be an active part of preventing pollution and damage to the environment.
Are environmental friendly processes an important consideration for you when selecting a gold buyer? Tell us what you look for by leaving a comment below.
Related Blog Posts:
Connect with Metallix Direct Gold on Facebook and Twitter.
Subscribe to the Metallix Direct Gold Blog via email or RSS.