How is e-waste recycled?

E-waste has become the fastest-growing waste stream in the world as the availability and usage of electronics increases across the globe. Globally, more than 50 million metric tons of e-waste is generated every year.

What is E-waste?

E-waste refers to any electronic devices that have reached the end of life. Think about your daily electronics you cannot live without – smartphones, tablets and laptops. Recycling e-waste allows for the recovery of materials such as gold, copper, glass, aluminium, lithium, plastic, and more.

How is e-waste recycled?

It can be recycled using a variety of methods depending on the type of electronic device and the materials it contains. Here are some common methods for e-waste recycling:

1. Dismantling and sorting: E-waste is first dismantled by hand or machines, and then sorted into different types of materials such as plastic, glass, metal, and circuit boards.

2. Shredding and grinding: The sorted materials are then shredded or ground into smaller pieces to make them easier to process.

3. Magnetic separation: Magnets are used to separate ferrous materials such as iron and steel from non-ferrous materials such as aluminium and copper.

4. Chemical treatment: Chemicals are used to dissolve and separate metals from other materials in the e-waste.

5. Pyrometallurgical processing: This involves melting down the e-waste to recover metals such as gold, silver, and copper.

6. Hydrometallurgical processing: This involves using a chemical solution to dissolve metals from e-waste.

After the recycling process, the recovered materials can be used to make new electronic devices or other products. Proper e-waste recycling helps to reduce the environmental impact of electronic waste and conserve natural resources.

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