Every manufacturer working with copper-based chemistry knows how expensive it is to source, manage, and maintain. So why is it still so common to pay for that copper twice—first to use it, and again to dispose of it?

With tariffs looming and prices surging, it’s time to rethink the economics of copper waste. You already paid for that copper. Recovery ensures you don’t pay to lose it.

The Hidden Cost of Discharge

Most wastewater treatment strategies were designed when recovery wasn’t feasible. They prioritized compliance, not resource management.

But now, every gallon of spent process fluid—whether from etching, plating, or polishing—contains recoverable assets that are being written off as waste.

The cost breakdown looks like this:

• Initial chemical purchase: sunk cost
• Disposal/hauling: added OPEX
• Lost value: unrecovered metal = missed revenue

At current market prices, this is no longer a rounding error. It’s a missed opportunity with 5–6 figure annual implications.

Recovery Is Now Cost-Competitive

Historically, recovery required complex setups, outside vendors, or high concentrations to be viable. That’s no longer true.

ElectraMet’s electrochemical platform enables on-site copper recovery at low to moderate concentrations. It’s modular, scalable, and easy to integrate—no chemical media, no sludge, no hauling.

Facilities we’ve worked with have:

• Saved ~$286,000/year on hauling and chemical treatment
• Recovered and monetized ~$176,000/year in copper
• Reduced their chemical footprint and Scope 3 emissions

Double Duty: Cost Savings + Strategic Value

Recovery isn’t just a better treatment method—it’s an asset strategy:

• Offsets virgin copper costs
• Reduces total cost of compliance
• Aligns with ESG and circular economy goals
• Improves operational transparency and supply chain control

In a time of commodity volatility, recovery is no longer a “nice to have”—it’s a double-duty decision that protects your bottom line and your brand.

Stop Paying Twice

You’re already buying copper. Stop paying to throw it away.

Let us show you how much you’re losing—and how fast you can recover it.

Schedule a copper recovery assessment or learn more about how our ARRO platform (Asset Recovery for Reuse or Offtake) puts value back on your balance sheet.