Electronic Recycling 101

What is e-waste: Electronic waste is anything with a plug or a circuit board

(excluding major appliances and A/C units). The most commonly recycled items are computers, monitors,

printers, TV’s, and small appliances.

Automotive

• Computers/Laptops/base materials• Servers• LCD and CRT Monitors• Printers/Copiers• Keyboards, mice, computer cords• External hard drives• Modems/network boxes• Scanners• APC/UPS Backup systems• Flash drives, floppy drives, CDs

Materials we collectAudio Video Equipment

• Car stereos• GPS units• Auto shop diagnostic equipment• Car batteries• Alternators and starters

IT Equipment• Televisions (CRT, LCD, LED, Plasma,

Projection)• Video Players (VHS, DVD, Beta, BluRay)• Cable/DVR/Satellite boxes• Stereo systems and speakers• Game consoles, handheld games• Telecommunication equipment• Cell phones• VHS tapes, DVDs, CDs, audio tapes• MP3 players, boom boxes, walkmen• Projectors, Overhead machines Appliances

• Microwave/toaster ovens• Electric/Gas stoves• Small kitchen appliances• Washing machines and dryers• Vacuum cleaners• Hair dryers/curling irons• Iron• Electric lawnmower/weed eater

Batteries

• Medical Equipment (all fluids must be removed)

• Testing Equipment• Transformers• Capacitors• Cameras and broadcasting equipment• Typewriters• User terminals• Remote control or electronic toys

Materials we collect cont.Lamps

• Metal or plastic patio furniture• Metal bed frames• Metal desks• Metal shelving• Misc. wiring• Misc. scrap metal

Misc. Electronics• Fluorescent tubes• U-Tubes• CFL bulbs

Non-electronic items

• Lithium ion (laptop/cell phone)• Lithium ion (button) • Lead Acid • Ni-Cad• Ni-Mh

• Air conditioners• Refrigerators• Freezers

Materials we cannot acceptOther

• Some medical equipment• Some testing equipment• Manufacturing equipment• Gas powered lawnmowers• Gas powered scooters/carts• Cooking oil or motor oil

Items with Freon• PCBs (some ballasts)• Thermostats• Oil based paints or primers• Chemicals• Pharmaceuticals (unless it’s the good stuff)Items with chemicals or coolants

Why is e-waste a problem?• E-Waste is toxic and hazardous,

containing lead, cadmium, beryllium, mercury, and arsenic.

• CRTs contain 4 - 12 lbs of lead and account for 40% of all lead in landfills

• E-Waste accounts for 70% of heavy metals in landfills with potential contamination for soil and groundwater

• Incinerating computer plastics with brominated flame retardants generates toxic emissions

e-waste is a growing problem…

• e-waste volume is growing 3 times faster than all other waste streams

• 65 million PCs become obsolete every year in the US

• EPA estimate – 1.9 million tons of e-waste land-filled in US annually

• Over 500 million obsolete computers and TVs sitting in home closets, basements, and garages waiting to be recycled

How is e-waste being handled in Colorado?

• Per capita, Colorado has more electronic recyclers than most other states, but has a relatively low diversion rate

• Oversight of electronic recyclers is very limited• In urban areas, consumers have multiple options to recycle

electronics, most rural areas have none• Federal law prohibits businesses, organizations, and public

entities from disposing of toxic electronics. • SB 133 will ban consumer e-waste from landfills starting

July of 2013

Why ethical recycling offers the best solution

• Electronics are 95-98% recyclable• Recycling creates green jobs• Recycling reduces carbon footprint

• Recycling costs less per MTCO2 reduction than energy efficiency initiatives, weatherization measures, and wind power programs

• Recycling is a more efficient use of natural resources• Newer electronics contain precious metals that are in scarce supply (i.e. selenium,

indium, tellurium)• Mining is very costly both environmentally and economically

• For Example: Today’s mines produce a gold concentration of about 10 grams per ton of mined material

• Reuse is often not an option• Rapid advances in technology limit the market for used electronics• Data security is often not ensured

How are electronics processed for recycling?