e-waste recycling process

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Following on from our article regarding the responsible disposal of e-waste, here’s a bit of an outline on what happens after your e-waste is collected for recycling.

Please note: this is the process used at one supplier we use. Process may differ depending on the facility.

 The e-waste recycling process:

  1. A combination of crushers, shredders, density separators, and X-ray sorting technologies are used to sort e-waste into its major recyclable streams including plastics, glass, printed circuit boards, ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
  1. These product commodities are then sent to downstream recyclers and manufacturers to be used as feed material for further recovery and productions.
    • For example Printed Circuit Boards are sent to precious metal refiners where smelting technologies are used to extract precious metals and maximise resource recovery.
    • Plastics are sent to recyclers which separates and granulates the material into its different grades eg ABS, HIPS etc.
  1. The granulated material is then used as feedstock by processing manufacturers to create products such as wheelie bins, water drums and ropes.
  1. The CRT glass (Cathode Ray Tube – found in old TV sets) is first processed using X-ray technologies and then sent to lead smelters. Here the smelting process not only recovers the lead content in the glass but also uses the glass as a fluxing (chemical cleaning) agent in, therefore resulting in a 100% re-use solution.
  1. All remaining e-waste is broken down and sent for further downstream processing with approved domestic and international partners (domestic and international).

If you have bulk e-waste that you would like to dispose of responsibly please contact KS Environmental.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]