As Donald Trump and Anthony Albanese strike a deal over billions of dollars worth of critical minerals, the real treasure could be sitting in bins across Australia.

Award-winning engineer Veena Sahajwalla says it is time to rethink common e-waste items as valuable raw materials, calling on policymakers, industry and communities to embrace a new vision for what Australia discards.

Australians generate around 20kg of e-waste per person every year, but many of the minerals inside, like copper and tin, are never recovered, Professor Sahajwalla said.

"When we look at end of life electronic devices, we don't stop and think, 'oh gosh that printer's circuit board has got all this valuable copper and tin in it'," she told the National Press Club in Canberra on Tuesday.

At least 20 per cent of t

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