Where is electronic waste recycled

WEEE Centre provide e-waste collection, dismantling and automated processing services in Nairobi and several other major cities in Kenya. Kenya generates an average of 3, tons of e-waste each year from computers, monitors, printers, mobile phones, fridges, batteries and other devices. Of course, e-waste is only a part of that, but as the fastest growing waste stream, it is likely to become increasingly significant as we become more reliant on digital devices.

In , the United Nations reported that, by , the global generation is set to reach million tons of e-waste per year if our current systems do not change.

However, the challenges associated with e-waste recycling programs and increasing diversion rates are not insignificant. In fact, those chemicals, heavy metals, and other substances which are harmful to the environment can also create difficulties in the recycling process, and hazardous waste such as this must be carefully disassembled. This is especially problematic when e-waste is exported to developing countries where the people breaking down electronics are forced into extremely unsafe work environments in unregulated plants.

The methods used to process waste in these informal recycling facilities can also have severe environmental impacts and burning away plastics to recover metals without filters leads to an increase in emissions. While this does represent a significant concern, it can be avoided by ensuring your e-waste is handled by a reputable processor. Further still, even individual electronic products are often made of mixed materials such as plastic, metal, and glass.

This poses a problem for recyclers, as separating these materials is difficult, costly, and time-consuming, especially compared to single-material products like cans and glass bottles.

Municipal and private electronic waste collections will specify what electronic items they will accept in their program as it differs across the US. Despite the inherent challenges facing the recycling industry, there are systems in place that look to solve the e-waste problem. Here, we look at common, step-by-step processes of general e-waste recycling before going into the specifics of some of the items most frequently scrapped by businesses and homes. The first stage in the recycling process for e-waste is the collection of electronic products through recycling bins, collection locations, take-back programs, or on-demand collection services.

The mixed e-waste is then taken to specialized electronics recyclers. Best practice dictates that e-waste should be separated by type at this stage of the process, which is why many collection sites will have different bins or boxes for different items. This is especially important for e-waste containing batteries, which require special treatment and can be very damaging if mixed with other waste. While safe storage may not appear critical, it can prove very important. In the past, they were recycled into new computer monitors, but the growth of new technology and subsequent decline in demand for CRT products means much of this glass is now simply being stored indefinitely.

E-waste then goes through the initial stage of manual sorting, where various items such as batteries and bulbs are removed for their own processing. Order by newest oldest recommendations. Show 25 25 50 All. Threads collapsed expanded unthreaded.

Loading comments… Trouble loading? Most popular. If e-waste goes to landfill, hazardous and toxic substances can leak out, causing water and soil contamination.

This can be hugely harmful to wildlife, human health and the environment. Aside from this, there is also an ever growing problem with irresponsible waste disposal companies sending e-waste overseas. Discarded electronic items are exported overseas to countries like China, India and Nigeria where workers at informal recycling operations use crude techniques to extract valuable metals and components. Even though a huge amount of electrical products are purchased each year — a number which is only increasing with technological advancements — only a small proportion of these items are taken to be recycled.

Anything from mobile phones, computers and TVs to kitchen appliances and electrical tools can be taken to your local recycling centre and placed in an e-waste bin. Each electronic item contains a variety of materials, meaning that there are plenty of different uses for recycled e-waste.