Electronic waste is related to the waste of electronic devices, for example, TVs, smartphones, tablets, and refrigerators, etc. When the life span of electronic devices ends they make their way to the bins. The fact is, electronic devices are discarded even if they are working. People consume every new update to electronic devices, making the previous ones obsolete. This, probably, is a new segment of waste that we are introduced to, due to the high consumption of electronic devices. Electronic devices have become individual possession.
Management of E-Waste:
According to a report by seven UN agencies, 50 million tons of e-waste is produced around the world annually. But the more alarming factor is that only 20% of it gets recycled despite the fact that it is 100% recyclable. Half of the remaining 80% goes into landfills and some are incinerated.
Recyclable Material in Electronics:
Electronics are made up of metals, glass, plastic, wood, rubber, and ceramics. Metals can be recycled into multiple forms like making cars, airplanes, ships, and their parts. It can be used to make domestic items like crockery and cutlery. The most popular recycled metals are steel and aluminum. Recycling the glass from electronics is quite complicated but is not impossible. The screens of electronics, which are made of glass, are separated from the device and the metals attached to them are removed by breaking the glass into pieces. This is followed by two further steps to extract the organic glass to sort it out for making new screens. The batteries, hard disks, and plastic is also recycled in the shredding process.
Process of Recycling E-Waste:
Collecting:
First of all, e-waste is collected from the dumping area. You might have seen the services of the pink skips in Leicester, picking up the waste from skips. The recyclers transfer the waste to recycling facilities and plants.
Shredding:
Shredding is attained with two basic steps, initial Size reduction, and Secondary size reduction. This is the basic step of breaking down the e-waste into minute elements to make them ready for the separation process. shredding is sorting the waste material with hands. The waste is dismantled with hands and therefore demands more labor force. At this stage, different parts and materials are retrieved.
Magnetic Processing:
The magnetic separation process employs a strategy to extract Iron and steel from the e-waste. A magnet is used to segregate these components from the waste. It requires a further procedure to extract copper, aluminum, and circuit board.
Separating with Water:
The process separates plastic and glass from the waste. Therefore, each component is separated and good to go for making new material.
Importance of E-waste recycling:
Recycling e-waste provides the opportunity to conserve natural resources and sustain a healthy environment. It also plays a significant role in saving landfills and controlling global warming. Not only this, it provides job opportunities as well as it demands more labor force.
