Scalable UK Precious Metal Recovery: Waste Experts & Reformation Metals

“The Royal Mint Reformation Metals team have been superb. They are very responsive, open with communications, and work well with our operational team.” Shaun Donaghey, Managing Director, Waste Experts

A cleaner route for PCB value

Waste Experts is a leading UK environmental services and waste management company with over 25 years of experience. As a subsidiary of City Electrical Factors (CEF), they offer custom waste & recycling solutions with a strong commitment to sustainability and compliance. A core part of their mission is reducing the environmental footprint of electronic waste (e-waste) recycling. 

Challenges

In a market that exports printed circuit boards (PCBs) from e-waste overseas for processing due to limited domestic infrastructure, Waste Experts were looking for a more sustainable route. 

• Offshoring & Environmental Impact:
  Prior to their partnership with The Royal Mint Reformation Metals, Waste Experts exported PCBs to East Asia. While more lucrative, this route raised concerns around carbon emissions, environmental transparency, and the loss of UK value. 

• Lack of UK Processing Infrastructure:
  At the time, limited (if any) domestic options existed for recovering precious metals, particularly sustainably, from Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and PCBs. Like others in the industry, Waste Experts faced limited alternatives to offshore recovery. 

“We have been to The Royal Mint Reformation Metals’ state-of-the-art processing facility on several occasions, and it never ceases to amaze me how forward thinking, innovative and sustainable it is. We are proud to be in partnership with The Royal Mint.” Shaun Donaghey, Managing Director, Waste Experts

Why Waste Experts chose The Royal Mint Reformation Metals

Waste Experts partnered with The Royal Mint Reformation Metals as a domestic solution for precious metals recovery and also due to their shared commitment to sustainability, innovation and national growth.  

• Sustainability First: Sustainability is a core driver for Waste Experts and they have been encouraged by the level of commitment to sustainability displayed by The Royal Mint.

• Circular Economy: Supporting a circular economy is also particularly important to Waste Experts, and knowing the metals from their PCBs are reused is a key motivator. A standout example of this is recovered gold from processed PCBs at Reformation Metals is used in the contemporary jewellery line of 886 by The Royal Mint. 

• Supporting a UK Ecosystem: Waste Experts see supporting The Royal Mint’s Reformation Metals facility as more than just business, it’s an investment in UK innovation and jobs. 

• Brand Recognition & Co-Promotion: Waste Experts has embraced the opportunity to promote its collaboration with The Royal Mint, leveraging the credibility of a trusted, household name. 

Professionalism in partnership

Waste Experts dismantles end-of-life electronic equipment, segregates the PCBs, and supplies them directly to The Royal Mint Reformation Metals for onshore, low-carbon precious metals recovery. 

To date, 270 tonnes of PCBs from Waste Experts has been processed at the factory with a plan of increasing volumes due to expansion plans.  

The Royal Mint Reformation Metals and Waste Experts are collaborating at many key industry events to increase awareness on the importance of sustainable precious metal recovery and a circular economy. At CEF Live 2025, Laura Coward (The Royal Mint Reformation Metals) and Shaun Donaghey (Waste Experts) showcased how this partnership is delivering real circular economy solutions. 

“Our stand was purposely designed to showcase partnerships like this – because we believe a true circular economy is built on strong collaboration.” Shaun Donaghey, Managing Director, Waste Experts

Pictured: Shaun Donaghey (Managing Director), Waste Experts & Laura Coward (Business Development), The Royal Mint Reformation Metals

Key results

Waste Experts attributes the success of their partnership with The Royal Mint Reformation Metals to several key factors: 

• Trusted Partnership: Working with a UK government-backed institution like The Royal Mint provides assurance, security and transparency  

• Onsite Access & Visibility: Local operations enable convenient site visits and oversight at any stage 

• Transparent Process: Real-time updates and clear reporting deliver confidence and accountability  

• Proactive Team: The Royal Mint Reformation Metals team are responsive, engaged professionals who are genuinely committed to the partnership’s success 

• Aligned Sustainability Goals: Both partners champion circular, low-carbon solutions to reduce environmental impact. 

Emissions down, UK value retained & volumes growing

The partnership between The Royal Mint Reformation Metals and Waste Experts supports lower emissions and greater UK value retention, and also reinforces Waste Experts’ position as sustainability leaders in electronic waste. With ambitious growth plans, Waste Experts will continue to send increasing volumes of PCBs to The Royal Mint for environmentally responsible processing.  

In an often export-reliant market, Waste Experts is choosing values over margins—partnering with The Royal Mint Reformation Metals facility to help build a more sustainable, transparent, and self-sufficient future for e-waste recycling in the UK. 

Discover how your business can play a part in redefining precious metal recovery, book a call.