Samsung is working on recycling units of the failed Galaxy Note 7 to reduce its environmental impact. Any unit that isn’t being refurbished for sale is being pulled apart for parts and then melted down for the precious metals contained within.
A statement from Samsung indicates that the company wants to use camera modules, chips, and displays as spare parts. Mostly as replacement parts for the Galaxy Note 7 Fan Edition that may come in for repairs. It may also consider selling these components to third parties.
Whatever is left is being sent to be melted down for raw materials. Every smartphone contains trace amounts of precious metals like gold and copper; and Samsung hopes to recover some 175 tonnes from the recycling exercise.
It’s unclear if the reclaiming of components means that Samsung does not intend to sell the Galaxy Note 7 FE on a global level. There weren’t that many of the original Note 7 made before the recall, and it will certainly take several million of the units to make up for the amount of metals Samsung intends to reclaim.
[Source: Reuters]
