Process Of E-Waste Recycling

E-waste collection

Electronics are usually collected from individuals and organizations. To make collection easy, the individuals are supplied with bins where they are supposed to put the wastes. To further make collection easy, each of the waste is supposed to be placed in its own bin.For example,end of life computers are placed in their own bins and fluorescent bulbs in their own bins. Once the bins are full,the individuals or organization notify the recycling company which picks the waste.

Shredding

Once the items to be shredded have been delivered from the collection points, they are removed from the trucks and put in the store.If the items need to be shredded immediately, they are removed by hand and put in the conveyor line. Common electronics that need to be shred include: end of life batteries, toner cartridges, UPS battery, computers and fluorescent lights.

Once the e-waste has been picked by hand and placed in the conveyor line, the waste flows into the shredding line. If there are hard drives in the materials, secure hard drive shredding is done. There are two main shredders that are used in shredding: main shredder and final shredder. The main shredder breaks the material into 4" by 10" fragments. Once the materials have been fragmented, they flow to the final shredder that further reduces them into poker chip-sized fragments.

Separation

Once all the materials have been shredded in minute fragments, they enter separation lines. Here the materials are segregated depending on their nature. Sophisticated technologies are used to separate the materials. Some of the technologies used include: magnetic separation, optical identification and eddy currents. At the initial stages of separation plastics and metals are separated from the waste. In the second stage the different metal varieties are separated.

Output

Common commodities recovered from e-waste are plastics,steel,PC board, aluminum,and CRT glass.All these commodities are usually of varying grades and types.Once all the materials have been adequately shredded and separated,they are usually sold to manufacturers and producers who use them for various purposes.For example,you computer's steel may be used in manufacturing a car.

Benefits of recycling

Recycling of raw material from end-of-life electronics aids in solving the growing e-waste problem. This is because the materials are not stacked in dust bins thus polluting the environment.The other benefit is that it aids in conserving natural resources.This is because once the materials are recycled,they provide the necessary raw materials for industries therefore there is no need for mining.Recycling also reduces greenhouse gas emissions that are usually produced during the manufacture of new products.This further plays a role in minimizing pollution.

Conclusion

Although, most of end-of-life materials are shredded to provide the required raw materials,there are some materials that are usually in good conditions and they can't be destroyed. These materials are usually donated to people who might be in need of them. Common donations are laptop and computer donations.Cell phone donations are also made although to a small extent.