E-Waste Recycling

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment: Assessment of Stresses Occurring Along the Logistics Chain

July 5, 2019

It is a well-known fact that waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) often contains hazardous substances, posing a potential risk...

Recycling of Electrical and Electronic Waste at Hennemann Umweltservice

May 22, 2019

Hennemann Umweltservice Elektronik GmbH is headquartered in Espelkamp in North Rhine-Westphalia. The company‘s scope of services comprises the collection, transport,...

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Experts for E-Waste Recycling

Mr. Ankit Kalola serves as the Global Head – Sales at Fornnax Technology Pvt. Ltd, where he has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s sales strategy and global footprint. A seasoned expert in shredding systems and end-to-end recycling solutions, he excels in building client-centric approaches, driving market penetration, and aligning technical solutions with customer needs. His strategic direction has significantly contributed to Fornnax’s success across diverse industries and geographies. Mr. Kalola’s leadership continues to fuel growth, innovation, and long-term partnerships worldwide. For further information or to connect with Mr. Kalola, please reach out at +91-9033077711 or email: info@fornnax.com.

At M&J Recycling, my role as the UK & ROI Sales Manager centres on providing top-tier shredding solutions tailored to the waste and recycling sector's dynamic needs. My competencies lie in ensuring each solution aligns perfectly with our client's operational objectives. Capitalising on my 20-plus years of experience in the industry, my mission is to deliver reliable and innovative shredding technology that meets the rigorous demands of materials processing. My professional career is driven by the satisfaction of resolving complex waste management challenges, fostering long-term client relationships, and steering projects to completion with efficiency and precision.

After studying Chemical Engineering at the Technical University of Eindhoven, the Netherlands, Tom started working as Sales Engineer at Innov-X Systems. He initially focused on selling handheld XRF equipment in the Benelux, while gradually extending the geographical territory over the years. From 2007 he was heavily involved in the pioneering of automated XRF sensor technology, bringing this new technology to the metal scrap market worldwide. Tom joined TOMRA Sorting (then Titech GmbH) in 2011 as Sales Manager responsible for the Metal Recycling market in the Netherlands and Belgium. Since then, in his role as Segment Champion for the ELV shredder segment, he has also supported the metal recycling market in the Middle East region, Italy, Greece and projects in several other countries.

Xu Xifeng, the founder of Keson and vice president of Jiangsu Low Carbon Environment Design Institute of China. He has been engaged in solid waste recycling industry for more than 10 years, and has unique insights on solid waste overall solutions and resource recovery and sorting systems. He has visited well-known solid waste treatment companies in the Middle East, Europe, America and other regions, introducing standardized, refined and systematic management concepts of global top enterprises to his enterprises, and transforming advanced technologies and processes into productive forces. Within five years of solid waste sorting technology and waste resources in the field of rapid layout, his products are sold in 17 countries and more than 40 regions.

E-waste recycling, also known as electronic waste recycling, focuses on recovering valuable materials from discarded electronic devices. These devices include computers, smartphones, household appliances, and industrial electronics. During recycling, processors extract materials such as plastics, glass, copper, aluminum, and iron. Reusing these materials reduces the need for new raw material production and lowers overall energy use.

Electronic products often contain hazardous substances. Examples include cadmium, beryllium, mercury, and lead. When handled incorrectly, these materials pose serious risks to human health and the environment. Responsible e-waste recycling uses controlled processes to safely remove, isolate, and treat these harmful substances. This protects workers, communities, and ecosystems from exposure to toxic elements.

E-waste recycling also delivers clear environmental benefits. It reduces the volume of waste sent to landfills and prevents soil and water contamination. At the same time, it supports a more circular use of resources by returning recovered materials to the manufacturing cycle. These materials can then serve as inputs for new electronic products or other applications.

However, improper e-waste handling can cause severe damage. Unsafe dismantling or dumping can release toxic metals and chemicals into the environment. For this reason, certified recycling processes and proper regulation play a critical role in ensuring safe, efficient, and sustainable e-waste management worldwide.

The keys to success in electronic waste management are:

Develop eco-design devices where possible/li>
Properly collect electronic waste
Recover and recycle by safe methods
Dispose of e-waste by suitable techniques
Forbid the transfer of used electronic devices to developing countries
Raise awareness of the impact of e-waste

No single tool is adequate, but they can complement each other to solve this issue.

The management of e-waste is governed by various regulations and laws, such as the Basel Convention and the EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive. These regulations aim to ensure that e-waste is managed in an environmentally responsible way and to reduce the potential negative impacts of e-waste on human health and the environment.

E-waste management can also be done by certified e-waste recycling companies, They handle the collection, transportation, sorting, disassembly, recycling and proper disposal of e-waste in an environmentally friendly way. This can help to ensure that e-waste is managed in a safe and responsible manner.

The best guide to recycling electronics is to start by finding a certified e-waste recycler.

Industry certification programs have set requirements for safer disposal and recycling of electronic waste. These programs include guidelines that define effective and responsible e-waste management:

The R2:2013 Standard – The latest version of R2, the electronics recycling industry’s leading certification
The Recycling Industry Operating Standard™ (RIOS™) – The recycling industry’s management system standard for quality, environment, and health & safety (QEH&S)
The e-Stewards initiative – A global team of individuals, institutions, businesses, non-profit organizations, and governmental agencies upholding a safe, ethical, and globally responsible standard for e-waste recycling and refurbishment.

E-waste recycling is challenging because discarded electronics are advanced devices manufactured from varying proportions of plastics, metals, and glass.

The specific recycling process varies depending upon materials being recycled by e-waste recyclers and the employed technologies.

Collection: E-waste is collected from homes, businesses, and other sources. This can be done through curbside pick-up programs, drop-off centers, or special e-waste collection events.

Sorting: The collected e-waste is sorted by type of device, brand, and condition. This is done to ensure that the e-waste is of a consistent quality and composition.
Disassembly: The sorted e-waste is then disassembled to separate the valuable materials from the toxic chemicals. This is done by trained technicians who use specialized tools and equipment.
Shredding: The disassembled e-waste is then shredded into small pieces to make it easier to handle and sort.
Separation: The shredded e-waste is then separated into different materials, such as metals, plastics, and glass. This is done using a combination of mechanical and manual processes.
Recycling: The separated materials are then recycled or repurposed. Metals can be melted and reused, plastics can be recycled into new products, and glass can be crushed and used to make new glass products.

Treatment and disposal of dangerous materials and wastes – The remaining toxic part includes mercury, lead, and arsenic which need to be disposed of responsibly. These are lethal substances that could contaminate the soil and groundwater to disastrous consequences.

Exports to developing nations – A primary concern is the illegal export of e-waste to countries with lower environmental standards.
Less valuable materials – Although the volume of e-waste increases rapidly, the quality of e-waste is decreasing. Currently, it’s a case of growing disassembly challenges combined with reducing incentives.
Controlling chemical exposures – Even in the high-tech formal e-waste recycling centers, challenges remain in assessing and managing chemical exposures regularly found in this industry.
Most E-waste goes to landfills and incinerators – More e-waste ends up in our landfills and incinerators than is being recycled, although recycling numbers continue to rise.
Re-use – Re-use should be viewed as reactionary to the current trend of devices being disposed of much earlier than necessary and is about optimizing the use phase of devices.