E-Waste Recycling

E-WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

Electronic circuit boards are made by layering a plastic sheet with conductive metals like copper, gold, silver, and palladium. These circuit boards are found in even the simplest electronic devices and are crucial for the electronics industry, with an annual production value reaching 80 billion dollars. This growth has accelerated due to high demand for smartphones and media devices. Today, circuit boards make up about 10% by weight of the 50 million tons of electronic waste (e-waste) produced each year.
Most valuable metals in electronic waste are found in circuit boards. Depending on the type and use of the boards, one ton of circuit boards can contain between 10 and 1,000 grams of gold. In fact, one ton of electronic circuit boards contains 40 to 800 times more gold than natural gold ore. Especially from scrap mobile phone boards, between 300 and 1,000 grams of gold can be recovered per ton.

Demcore Recycling collects over 2,000 tons of electronic circuit boards annually, recovering the valuable metals within them. This process is carried out in environmentally responsible facilities abroad. The recycling process starts by breaking down the circuit boards into small pieces using powerful crushers, followed by the recovery of valuable metals through hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy. In the pyrometallurgy process, the boards are melted, and metals are collected in molten copper, then separated by copper electrolysis to extract gold, silver, and palladium. This process achieves a 98% recovery rate of valuable metals.

Demcore Recycling processes various types of electronic boards, such as computer and mobile phone boards. With its expertise, Demcore also offers consulting and refining services to its clients.

The types of waste processed at Demcore Recycling facilities are:

  • LARGE HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES (DISHWASHERS, WASHING MACHINES, ETC.)
  • SMALL HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES (VACUUM CLEANERS, TOASTERS, ETC.)
  • IT AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT (COMPUTERS, PHONES, ETC.)
  • CONSUMER EQUIPMENT (VIDEO CAMERAS, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, ETC.)
  • LIGHTING EQUIPMENT (FLUORESCENT LAMPS, ENERGY-SAVING BULBS, ETC.)
  • ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC TOOLS (EXCEPT LARGE AND FIXED INDUSTRIAL TOOLS, SUCH AS DRILLS, SAWS, ETC.)
  • TOYS, LEISURE, AND SPORTS EQUIPMENT (VIDEO GAMES, COIN-OPERATED MACHINES, ETC.)
  • MONITORING AND CONTROL INSTRUMENTS (THERMOSTATS, HEAT REGULATORS, ETC.)
  • AUTOMATIC DİSPENSERS (MONEY DISPENSERS, DRINK DISPENSERS, ETC.)
E-WASTE COLLECTION, SORTING, AND RECYCLING PROCESS

In the age of technology, e-waste has become a major environmental problem. Growing populations and advancing technology are rapidly increasing the volume of e-waste. In Turkey, about 535,000 tons of e-waste is produced every year, but only 2.5% of it is collected and recycled by recycling companies in a safe manner. The remaining e-waste is often disposed of through various means, losing valuable metals in the process.

E-waste contains toxic substances like lead, mercury, and cadmium, posing a serious threat to human health and the environment. Besides toxic materials, the recycling and reuse of valuable metals is essential for a sustainable environment. Therefore, the collection, sorting, and recycling of e-waste by professional teams is crucial, both environmentally and economically.

Steps of E-Waste Recycling Process:

  1. E-Waste Collection:
    • For long-term collection needs, bins or containers are placed (especially for large quantities).
    • For one-time collection needs, a contract is arranged, and e-waste is collected on-site.
  2. E-Waste Transport:
    • E-waste is transported by drivers with an ADR license (Hazardous Waste Transport Certificate) in licensed vehicles.
    • During transport, special metal and plastic containers are used; if needed, e-waste is sealed and opened under supervision at the facility.
    • Necessary forms are prepared for each collection and transport, with notifications sent to the Provincial Environment Directorate and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.
  3. E-Waste Pre-Sorting:
    • During unloading, a pre-sorting process is done to separate batteries, fluorescent lighting devices, lamps, and monitors.
    • Remaining e-waste is sent to storage.
    • Batteries are stored temporarily and then sent to battery recycling facilities.
    • Parts with valuable metals, like electronic cards, floppy disks, HDDs, RAMs, and processors, are sorted and sent to licensed recycling companies for refining.
  4. E-Waste Storage:
    • Materials are stored in special metal and plastic containers in suitable and safe conditions, waiting to enter the processing stage.
  5. E-Waste Destruction:
    • Stored e-waste is placed in a crusher/blender with a forklift, broken down into pieces smaller than 1 cm².
    • After crushing, materials are automatically sorted by weight and conductivity.
    • Sorted materials are placed in big bags, packaged, and weighed.
    • The entire destruction process is recorded by security cameras and can be viewed online by clients if requested.
  6. Recycling:
    • The materials obtained from the process are recycled as follows:
      • Iron: Sold to recycling facilities and reintroduced into manufacturing as raw material.
      • Stainless Steel: Sent to recycling facilities.
      • Copper and Brass: Sold to recycling facilities as raw materials for manufacturing.
      • Plastics: Processed as raw material in recycling facilities and used in manufacturing.
      • Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium: Processed as raw materials and used in manufacturing.
      • Ni-Cd, NiMH, and Li-ion Batteries: Exported to licensed recycling facilities abroad.
  7. Reporting:
    • The entire recycling process is recorded on video.
    • Recycling and disposal rates are reported to clients after each process.

Thanks to these steps, e-waste is collected, transported, sorted, recycled, and reintroduced into the economy in a professional manner.

As a result, the recycling of electronic circuit boards and other e-waste is vital for a sustainable environment and human health. This process not only helps recover valuable metals for the economy but also reduces environmental pollution and conserves natural resources. Demcore Recycling, with its environmental awareness, is committed to the collection, sorting, and recovery of e-waste.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON E-WASTE RECYCLING, YOU CAN CONTACT US.

Demcore Recycling