• How to recycle

    Electronics

Electronic waste (e-waste) Recycling

Let’s explore the step-by-step process of e-waste recycling

A pile of e-waste. A human in first person view is holding up what looks like an electronic tablet that has two major cracks in the screen.

separating e-waste

Sorting and Shredding

  • The journey begins with collecting electronic products through take-back programs, or designated collection points.
  • At specialized electronics recycling facilities, workers manually sort and separate different types of e-waste. They examine items to identify reusable parts or components.
  • E-waste then undergoes shredding. Powerful machines break down electronics into smaller pieces.
  • This step prepares the materials for further processing.
A worker in a recycling facility is sitting down sifting through a pile of electronic waste.

Metallic and Nonmetallic Separation

Removal, and Separation

  • Magnets are employed to extract ferrous metals (such as iron and steel) from the shredded e-waste.
  • These metals can be recycled separately.
  • The remaining mixture is subjected to mechanical separation.
  • Techniques like air classifiers and vibrating screens separate metallic components (like copper, aluminum, and gold) from nonmetallic ones (such as plastics and glass).
  • Water-based separation is used to further segregate materials as plastic floats.
A small TV from the 1960s

Keep our gadgets out of landfills and in the recycling loop

Special E-Waste Information

  • CRT Recycling Process: Cathode ray tubes (CRTs) from old TVs and monitors require specialized handling due to their lead content.
  • Importance of E-Waste Recycling: Proper recycling prevents toxic substances (like lead, cadmium, and mercury) from leaching into soil, water, and air. It also reduces health risks and conserves resources.