E-Waste Recycling: How Does it Work?

21 February 2023

Smart devices like phones and tablets have been dominating the electronics industry for many years. And despite the growth of their users, the demand for these things continues to rise steadily as more improvements and enhancements are made.

But these devices are not the only ones that have received notable upgrades. Over the past few years, other electronic devices have also been improved by manufacturers. Washing machines, air conditioners, and other appliances maximise components that often help them function optimally, conserve energy, and last for a long time.

They can still, however, deteriorate and become damaged. And once discarded, they are then treated as electronic waste or e-waste.

A Quick Overview of E-Waste

E-waste is a waste category for products discarded from appliances, devices, and equipment pieces with plugs, cords, or electronic components. These products are often made from non-ferrous and precious metals, alloys, ceramics, glass, organic polymers with toxic content, fillers, stabilisers, pigments, and other notable substances.

Various types of e-waste are often discarded by households, businesses, and others. These types include major appliances, small appliances, computer and telecommunication appliances, consumer electronics, and lighting devices. Other e-waste types are electrical and electronic tools, electronic toys, medical devices, monitoring devices, and vending machines.

The Problem with E-Waste

E-waste can be a huge issue as it tends to overpopulate landfills. Without proper management of e-waste, it can lead to the spread of toxic substances in the soil, air, and water. These substances can even affect the health of living things. Improper e-waste disposal can likewise lead to the discarding of precious materials that can be difficult to obtain, especially if they are non-renewable. These materials include silver, gold, copper, platinum, aluminium, and cobalt.

Even though e-waste disposal can be problematic, it can still be saved through recycling. Instead of sending old and faulty appliances and devices to landfills, households and businesses can alternatively send them to recycling centres. These centres can then help recover materials that can be reprocessed. Subsequently, they can dispose of toxic materials properly, deterring them from harming the environment.

Recycle Metals from E-Waste

The use of metals in electronic devices and appliances has led to their longer service life. Once they become damaged, they can be sent to recycling centres to recover and recycle metal materials. Non-ferrous metals like copper, aluminium, and nickel can often be found in these things. And if they are appropriately separated and cleaned by the said centres and scrap yards, they can be bought again at great prices.

Ferrous metals can also be found in electronics and others. Once they are sent to scrap yards and recycling centres, they can be disassembled to effectively recover ferrous metals like steel. Steel is often used by manufacturers to generate the casing of printers, monitors, and others.

When recycling e-waste, recycling centres and scrap yards would initially disassemble the electronic components. They then categorise their contents by materials and clean them accordingly. Mechanical separation is subsequently carried out through mechanical means, magnets, or water. Ultimately, the materials are prepared for sale. They can also be reused based on the demands of the industries.

If you need help with e-waste recycling, you can contact us at Victorian Metal Traders.

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