Have you ever wondered how old electronics are recycled? If so, it’s time to obtain a response at last!
This page is for anyone interested in learning more about how recycling electronics differs from other types of recycling or what happens to the rare earth elements that are found in electronics. Learn more about the entire process of recycling devices by reading on.
First, let’s discuss what it means to recycle electronics.
What is recycling of electronics?
In order to use the electronics’ salvageable components, the process of gathering, sorting, and recycling them is known as electronics recycling (through the recycling process).
Additionally, this procedure tries to safeguard the environment from potentially harmful substances that could wind up in landfills and leak into the air, soil, and water.
Additionally, discarding outdated equipment helps to properly erase any private data that may be present. Companies are protected from information leaks, identity theft, and data breaches thanks to this!
Electronics Recyclable Types
Your smartphone or laptop is likely the first item that springs to mind when you consider the different sorts of recyclable electronics. Yes, recycling these electronics is a terrific idea!
There are several high-end devices that are recyclable in today’s contemporary, technologically advanced society, including:
>Computers
>Tablets
>mobile phones
>Televisions \sRadios
>Other intelligent devices
However, there are a huge variety of different electrical devices that can also be recycled. Some
of them could be:
>cooling systems
>Heaters
>Microwaves
>Batteries
>electronic cameras
>Calculators
>the circuit boards
>Monitors
>DVD/VCR players
>telephone apparatus
The list goes on and on! In fact, many companies have a rich trove of recyclable old office electronics, including printers and desktop PCs.
The Step-by-Step Recycling of Electronics Procedure
It’s time to respond to the question, “How are electronics recycled,” now that you are aware of what electronics recycling is and what kinds of electronics can be recycled.
Discover each stage in the recycling of electronics by reading on.
1. Gather Electronics In order to recycle electronics, you must first gather them. Anywhere that technology is employed, such obsolete electronics can be discovered include:
1. At home
At work, schools, hospitals, and agencies (ex. Digital advertising agencies)
production facilities, etc.
Set up a corporate electronics recycling plan and get the support of your staff if you want to start an electronics recycling campaign at your business. Your facility’s or office’s collection of outdated devices will be considerably more organised once you have a firm plan in place.
2. Deliver electronics to an authorised recycler of electronics
Transporting the devices to a recognised electronics recycler is arguably one of the most crucial parts in the procedure. Sending your old gadgets to a professional facility that can erase sensitive data from your devices before recycling is important to remember.
Next, if you have a lot of heavy electronics to recycle, many recycling facilities will arrange transportation services to come and pick up the gadgets for you. You can also deliver the equipment yourself in the alternative.
3. Electronics shredding
The electronics are sorted and destroyed once they are at the recycling centre. The shredding procedure is frequently carried out manually since each electronic item is thoroughly disassembled and scrutinised.
The electronics are categorised after being disassembled piece by piece.
4. Arrange electronics.
Why the electronics aren’t separated first and then destroyed may be something you’re asking. Actually, the shredding procedure must be finished first because it is necessary to separate the various components of the electronic item.
Confusing? Put it this way, shall we.
Various metals, polymers, glass, chemicals (such fluorescent light, toner cartridges, etc.), and other components can be found in some devices. It is necessary to disassemble the electronics before sorting these components. These components are then recycled after being categorised.
Before the items continue on in the recycling process, dangerous materials (such cathode ray tubes) are taken out in this step.
5. Dust Removal
The remaining electronics parts are then put on a conveyor belt to go through a procedure called dust extraction. The pieces are spread out and shaken on the belt, after which dust is collected and discarded.
This approach is used to make sure that recycling doesn’t harm the environment in any way.
6.Magnet Separation
After the dust has been removed, the ferrous and non-ferrous metals will be magnetically separated. Large magnets are employed in this step to separate iron and steel from other materials by sucking them up.
This step is crucial since metal and plastic recycling must be done separately.
7.Water Separation,
Water separation happens after the magnets separate metal from other materials. In this process, hydraulics are utilised to safely and effectively separate glass from plastic.
Glass is recycled differently from plastic and metal, just like those two materials are.
8.Purification
The garbage is then studied and improved to ensure that all of the components are broken down and recycled correctly.
For instance, if the electronics recycling facility has the ability to melt down metals on-site, they will often analyse the components and remove any corrosion, paint, or other substances that may be present from the metal. The metal can then be heated and refined more effectively.
Rare earth element refinement
Electronics may be put through chemical reactors to extract rare earth elements, depending on the recycling facility they are shipped to (such as neodymium and dysprosium).
It is made sure that rare earth elements can’t leak out into the environment and harm humans, animals, or plants through the extraction and refinement processes.
9. Make Ready for Sale
Last but not least, after the electronics have been reduced to their most basic components, each component is either transported and sold to other facilities that reuse the resources, or it is recycled within the same facility according to its category (metal, plastic, paper, glass, etc.).
