Recycling e-waste has been a priority in recent decades, with the growing importance of developing a sustainable environment. In most electronic devices, a wide range of materials can be recycled even after these appliances reach the end of their life. Plastics and metals are among the foremost recyclable materials. Therefore, the process of e-waste recycling involves extracting the essential materials and reusing them, rather than choking the waste management system.
CDs, tapes, SSDs, and HDs, are adding to e-wastes. This explains why a strategic mechanism should exist.
What Are The Most Common Types Of E-Wastes?
Considering both domestic and commercial equipment and electronic products, here are some of the materials that can be recycled:
- Plastic
- Metals
- Glass
- Circuit Boards
- Mercury
- Ink and toner cartridges
- Hard disks
- Batteries
Australia happens to be one of the largest e-waste producers. Therefore, it makes sense to know the viable means to recycle e-waste and foster a sustainable environment.
The Process of E-Waste Recycling
Electronic appliances come with a variety of materials. Therefore, segregating and recycling these parts often turns out to be a Herculean task. Here’s a general overview of the process.
1. Collecting e-wastes and transporting them
E-waste recycling begins by zeroing in on the wastes, gathering them through a properly managed system, and then sending them to their respective places. Generally, you will come across collection bins and take-back booths in Australia. They are carried away by the people in charge once they are full.
2. Shredding e-wastes and sorting
The next step is to make a clear distinction between the different types of e-wastes. This task is carried out in the recycling plants. Why, you ask? Well, each e-waste type must undergo a different type of treatment. The success of segregation largely relies on the process of shredding. This explains why the plants in Australia have sophisticated shredding mechanisms.
During shredding, the electronic products are disintegrated into small pieces. This helps the professionals to sort them out quickly. The experts manually sort the pieces and then dismantle them. The process involves significant amounts of labour. This is also a critical phase in retrieving each part. Following this, the materials need to be segregated into different groups. These categories include several reusable materials, which require further processing.
However, certain waste materials should not be crushed. These include batteries, fluorescent lights, toner cartridges, UPS batteries, and other components.
3. Extracting dust
The e-waste contains tiny particles of dust. A calculated shaking process is involved, which further segregates this dust. This has to be further broken down. The professionals take care of the dust, ensuring a proper extraction process, so they don’t harm the environment. As a result, the process does not degrade the environment in any way.
4. Magnetic separation
As the name implies, magnetic separation entails using a strong magnet to separate iron from other wastes. This is a relatively simple process comprising a massive overhead magnet.
However, if the e-wastes contain copper, circuit boards, or aluminium, some manual effort would be required as well. Moreover, most types of e-wastes contain plastic that requires manual separation.
5. Water separation
Electronic wastes often contain both plastic and glass. It is difficult to separate these materials, as they both look transparent. In order to further purify the waste stream, the experts segregate plastic from metals. The process of water separation helps in segregating plastic from glass.
6. Recycling metals
In the final stage, the recycling plant prepares the respective materials again for sale. These can be used as raw materials in the manufacturing process of new electronic goods.
Benefits of E-Waste Recycling
Here are some of the reasons that demonstrate why domestic and industrial consumers prefer to recycle their wastes:
1. Conserve natural resources
E-waste recycling allows us to separate key materials and metals from a pile of waste and reuse them over and over again. This negates the need to go digging in the earth for more such resources. For the manufacturers, it would be easy to get raw materials from these wastes. This would take a lower toll on the earth’s limited natural resources. For instance, the earth’s metal deposits like copper, steel, or iron are limited. Considering that these are exhaustible, it makes sense to recycle e-waste.
2. Create new jobs
The recycling industry in Australia is growing. Therefore, recycling your electronic waste can help the country’s economy. This would help us move towards a more sustainable future.
3. Prevent global warming
Under normal conditions, the dumped electronic wastes go to landfills. Ultimately, this would lead to the piling up of materials that still had some value. Remember, more than 60% of the landfills turn out to be biodegradable. The process involves the generation of gases like methane and other greenhouse gases. This significantly contributes to environmentally adverse conditions like global warming. Besides, landfills also cause soil and water pollution in the local environment. Through e-waste recycling, you would be channelling your efforts toward a life-saving cause.
4. Eco-friendly credentials
When it comes to establishing an eco-friendly culture, you need to demonstrate your eco-friendly credentials. Recycling e-wastes serve as a tangible process to show that your company remains committed to the environment as well as the community. Ultimately, an environment-friendly stance goes a long way in establishing your brand image. It makes sense to align to green goals.
Bottom Line
The need for sustainability is on the rise, and businesses must do their part to contribute to a healthy environment. Evidently, it would be wise to have a proper e-waste recycling mechanism in place for your organisation. Successful businesses closely collaborate with established e-waste recycling professionals to integrate their respective organisations with the necessary infrastructure.