Introduction to Electronics (E-waste) Recycling

Source: https://www.thebalance.com
Electronics waste, commonly known as e-scrap and e-waste, is the trash we
generate from surplus, broken and obsolete electronic devices. E-waste or
electronics recycling is the process of recovering material from old devices to use in
new products.
Frequently replaced electronics
We are creating e-waste at a rapid rate. Some of the most commonly replaced
electronics include cell phones (replaced every 22 months), desktop computer
(replaced every 2 years), portable music players (replaced every 2/3 years), DVD
player (replaced every 4/5 years), printer (replaced every 5+ years), and televisions
(replaced every 10+ years).
So, with very short useful life, these electronics transition into e-waste at a rapid
pace. In fact, it was estimated that there were 422 million unused and unwanted cell
phones accumulating in people's homes by the end of 2015.
According to the tech research company, Gartner, in 2015 alone, an estimated 1.9
billion cell phones were sold worldwide. Thats nearly one for every four people alive.
Every year millions of electronic devices such as mobile phones, TVs, computers,
laptops, and tablets reach the end of their useful life.
What happens to devices at the end of their useful life?
Unfortunately, the majority of these electronic products end up in landfills and just a
tiny percentage comes back as/in new electronic devices. According to a UN study,
in 2014 alone, 41.8 million tons of electronic waste (e-waste) was discarded
worldwide, with only 10 to 40 percent of disposal done properly.

Electronics are full of valuable materials including copper, tin, iron, aluminum, fossil
fuels, titanium, gold, and silver. Many of the materials used in making these
electronic devices can be recovered, reused and recycled, including plastics, metals,
and glass. In a report, Apple revealed that it recovered 2,204 pounds of gold
worth $40 millionfrom recycled iPhones, Macs and iPads in 2015.
Some more E-waste recycling facts

Every year, Americans throw away around 9.4 million tons of e-waste, an
amount which is more than any other country in the world.

Currently, e-waste constitutes 2 percent of the municipal waste stream in the

U.S. E-waste is currently the fastest growing portion of municipal solid waste
in the U.S., increasing by 5 percent annually.

Every year, between 20 and 50 million tons of e-wastes are tossed into
landfills, and just 10 to 18 percent of total worldwide e-waste generation is
recycled. But according to EPA, current E-waste recycling rate is just 12.5
percent.

Every year, Americans throw away cell phones containing over $60 million in
silver and gold.

Much of the e-waste generated in the U.S. is exported to China, India,

Pakistan, Nigeria and Ghana creating a dumping problem in those countries.

Benefits of E-waste recycling

Recycling e-waste has various environmental and economic benefits:

According to EPA, recycling one million laptops can save the energy
equivalent of electricity that can run 3,657 U.S. households for a year. EPA
also states that by recycling one million cell phones, we can recover 75 lbs of
gold, 772 lbs of silver, and 35,274 lbs of copper and 33 lbs of palladium.

According to the Electronics TakeBack Coalition, it takes 1.5 tons of water,

530 lbs of fossil fuel and 40 Ibs of chemicals to manufacture a single
computer and monitor.

81 percent of energy associated with a computer is used during production

and not during operation.

Electronics contains various toxic and hazardous chemicals and materials that
are released into the environment if we do not dispose of them properly.

Recycling e-waste enables us to recover various valuable metals and other

materials from electronics, saving natural resources (energy), reducing
pollution, conserving landfill space, and creating jobs.

The electronics recycling process

Electronics recycling can be challenging because discarded electronics devices are
sophisticated devices manufactured from varying proportions of glass, metals, and
plastics. The process of recycling can vary, depending upon materials being recycled
and the technologies employed, but here is a general overview.
Collection and Transportation: Collection and transportation are two of the initial
stages of the recycling process, including for e-waste. Recyclers place collection
bins or electronics take-back booths in specific locations and transport the collected
e-waste from these sites to recycling plants and facilities.
Shredding, Sorting, and Separation: After collection and transportation to recycling
facilities, materials in the e-waste stream must be processed and separated into
clean commodities that can be used to make new products. Efficient separation of
materials is the foundation of electronics recycling. Initial shredding of e-waste
stream facilitates sorting and separation of plastics from metals and internal circuitry.
So, e-waste items are shredded into pieces as small as 100mm to prepare for further
sorting.
A powerful overhead magnet separates iron and steel from the waste stream on the
conveyor. The separated steel materials are then prepared for sale as recycled steel.
Further mechanical processing separates aluminum, copper and circuit boards from
the material stream which now is mostly plastic. Then, a water separation technology
is used to separate glass from plastics. Visual inspection and hand sorting improve

the quality of extracted materials. The separated streams of aluminum, copper and
circuit boards are collected and prepared for sale as recycled commodity materials.
Advanced separation technologies are used in the process. The final step in the
separation process locates and extracts any remaining metal remnants from the
plastics to further purify the stream.
Preparation For Sale as Recycled Materials: After the shredding, sorting and
separation stages have been executed, the separated materials are prepared for
sale as usable raw materials for the production of new electronics or other products.
Electronics Recycling Associations
ISRI (the Institute of Recycling Industries): ISRI is the largest recycling industry
association with 1600 member companies, of which 350 companies are e-waste
recyclers.
CAER (Coalition for American Electronics Recycling): CAER is another leading
e-waste recycling industry association in the U.S. with over 130 member companies
operating around 300 e-waste recycling facilities altogether throughout the country.
EERA (European Electronics Recyclers Association): EERA is the leading ewaste recycling industry association in Europe.
EPRA (Electronic Products Recycling Association): EPRA is the leading e-waste
recycling industry association in Canada.
Business Opportunities in E-waste Recycling
E-waste recycling is a growth industry with an ever increasing volume of e-waste
streams worldwide. But the increasing number of regulations pertaining to e-waste
recycling creates multiple entry barriers to industry. To understand different types of
e-waste recycling businesses, the level of investment requirement, time and expense
of certification, site security, health and safety and other related information,
read Business Opportunities in Electronics Recycling.

Key Current Challenges for Electronics Recycling Industry

The E-waste recycling industry has a significant number of challenges. This includes:
Exports to developing nations Exporting e-waste, including hazardous and toxic
materials, is leading to serious health hazards for the workers working for
dismantling electronic devices in countries without adequate environmental controls.
Currently, 50-80 percent of e-waste that recyclers collect is exported overseas,
including illegally exported e-scrap, which is of particular concern. Overall, the
inadequate management of electronics recycling in developing countries has led to
various health and environmental problems.
Less valuable materials Although the volume of e-waste is increasing rapidly, the
quality of e-waste is decreasing. Devices are getting smaller and smaller containing
less precious metal. The material values of many end-of-life electronic and electrical
devices have therefore fallen sharply.
At the IERC 2016 press conference held in Salzburg in January, 2016, Thierry Van
Kerckhoven, Global Sales Manager at the material technology group Umicore, stated
The increasing level of miniaturization poses the question of whether conventional
treatment processes such as the currently used shredding and post-shredding
technologies will still be adequate to cope with the recycling challenges of the
future.
Electronics recyclers have also suffered due to sagging global prices of recycled
commodities, which have decreased margins and resulted in business closures.
Electronics are not designed for recycling and reuse Many products continue to
be designed in ways that they are not easily recyclable, repairable or reusable. Such
design is often undertaken for proprietary reasons, to the detriment of overall
environmental goals. In this regard, organizations such as ISRI have been active in
promoting policies to broaden the range of authorized companies allowed to repair
and refurbish smartphones to avoid their needless destruction.

Most E-waste still goes To landfills The current rate or level of e-waste recycling is
definitely not sufficient. The current recycling rate of 15-18 percent has much room
for improvement as most e-waste still is relegated to the landfill.
Electronics Recycling Laws
More and more electronic waste laws have been passed. Currently, 25 U.S. states
have laws mandating statewide e-waste recycling. Several more states are working
toward passing new legislation and improving the existing policy. Currently, 65
percent of the U.S. population is covered by state e-waste recycling laws. In several
states including California, Connecticut, Illinois, and Indiana, e-waste is banned from
landfills. Check out this Brief Comparison of State Laws on Electronics Recycling to
have a better understanding of e-waste recycling laws in the U.S.
References
http://money.cnn.com/2016/04/15/technology/apple-gold-recycling/
http://www.treehugger.com/clean-technology/crazy-e-waste-statistics-explored-ininfographic.html
http://www.ksewaste.org/ewaste_why.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw4g6H7alvo
http://www.ewaste.com.au/ewaste-articles/how-is-electronic-waste-recycled/
http://www.mining.com/web/e-waste-sector-facing-new-challenges/
http://www.electronicstakeback.com/resources/problem-overview/
http://www.electronicstakeback.com/promote-good-laws/state-legislation/