Computer Recycling Process

Computer Recycling Process

How are computers recycled?

With the increase in usage of IT products, the rate of disposal is also increasing. The improper disposal of electronics not only leaves our environment imperiled to detrimental chemicals but also wastes valuable natural resources such as zinc, iron, gold and petroleum.

According to EPA, recycling one computer can avert 1.35 metric tons of CO2 from being released. That is why the computer recycling process is crucial, as it helps to preserve the world’s prized resources.

Recyclable materials in computers

Unwanted computer equipment includes printers, monitors, hard drives and circuit boards. These items contain considerable amounts of recyclable materials which are hazardous to landfills. The keyboard, glass monitor, plastic or aluminium casing, CD-ROM drive, cables, ray tube, circuit board, power cord, batteries and printer casings are recyclable computer materials.

There is approximately 2% of computer equipment that is non-recyclable. This portion is separated at when the computer enters the recycling facility.

Why computer recycling is important ?

Many people do computer recycling for cash, but disposing of computer and its parts in an eco-friendly way can:

  1. Reduce landfills
  2. Conserve valuable non-renewable resources
  3. Promote human and environmental health 

Types of Computer Recycling Process:

Universally, there are two methods of PC recycling, as described below:

 

De-Manufacturing:

In the de-manufacturing process, the computer parts are manually dismantled and further sold as recyclable raw materials. This process produces more reusable gears for derived markets.

 

Shredding:

In Shredding process, least amount of manual sorting and disassembling of computer equipment is done. The computer components are simply deposited into shredding, which allows a recycler to recover the finest worth from the recycled materials.

Computer Recycling Process

PC recycling process includes the typical procedure described below:

 

Step 1. Collection:

Firstly, the waste and disposable computers are collected and brought to the recycling unit.

 

Step 2. Manual Sorting: 

In manual sorting, the computer scrap sorted into recyclable, reusable and non-usable categories.

 

Step 3. Testing for Reusability:

At this stage, the computer scrap undergoes a testing phase to check their functionality and potential to be refurbished.

 

Step 4. Dismantling: 

When particular computer components are found to be worthless of repair, they are broken down into for further reuse or marketed as raw material.

 

Step 5. Shredding:

Ultimately that computer component which is worthless of being recycled is shredded and disposed of away without causing harm to the environment.

 

Step 6. Collection and Shipment of Commodities

As each component is separated, the material is collected in large cardboard boxes and shipped to another processor, where it is used as raw material for manufacturing for new products.  

Using these recycled materials in the manufacturing offers multiple benefits such as:

  1. Reduces pollution and carbon emissions
  2. Reduces energy and water consumption
  3. Keep valuable materials out of landfills

Scrapbuk has earned a reputation of trusted computer scrap buyer who deals in purchasing of computer scrap.