PCB (Printed Circuit Board)

Last updated: 4 April 2026

PCB (Printed Circuit Board) is the green board inside electronics that contains copper traces, chips, and solder. Rich in precious metals.

Last reviewed by Marcus Williams on 23 March 2026

A PCB, or Printed Circuit Board, is the green board inside electronics that contains copper traces, chips, and solder.

In more detail, a PCB acts like the brain of an electronic device, connecting all components together to ensure proper function. It consists of layers of fibreglass coated with copper tracks that interconnect different parts such as resistors, capacitors, and microchips. These boards vary in complexity-from simple single-layer designs to detailed multi-layer configurations used in advanced technology devices.

According to the Consumer Technology Association, The average US household has 21 unused electronic devices.

Consider a smartphone-its PCB is the heart where all operations happen. When you press a button or scroll through your apps, signals travel along these copper paths on the board, directing power and data to the appropriate components. This makes it important for functionality but also important from a recycling perspective because of its high value due to precious metals like gold, silver, palladium, and copper.

For consumers and businesses, understanding what a PCB is becomes vital when considering e-waste management. Recycling these boards allows recovery of valuable materials while reducing environmental impact. For instance, in 2019, the amount of electronic waste generated worldwide was estimated at over 53 million tonnes-PCBs make up a significant portion of this weight and value.

When disposing of old gadgets, separating PCBs for recycling ensures that these components don't end up in landfills where toxic materials could leak into soil and water. This practice not only conserves natural resources but also supports the circular economy by reusing raw materials.

According to the UN Global E-Waste Monitor 2024, The value of raw materials in global e-waste was estimated at $91 billion in 2022.

Related terms include e-waste, which refers to discarded electronic products; and circuit board, another name often used for PCBs. At PCB (Printed Circuit Board), for context, it's worth noting that in 2019, the global value of e-waste was approximately $57 billion according to a report from the Global E-Waste Monitor (United Nations University, 2020).

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