From Desktop to Dust

The article that started this series last month looked at many different kinds of "recycling" that can occur with each individual electronics recycler. Unlike the recycling of, say, aluminum cans, which generally move from collection point to broker to smelter, electronics and their components can literally travel to several destinations before, or if ever, parts of the device reach a smelter.

The process of electronics recycling—from the "reuse" of equipment and components to the recycling process involved in the separation of metals, plastics and glass—is very complex. The methods for getting those products to a state where they can either be reused, refined or used as sources for conserving energy resources can be expensive and complicated.

THE CALIFORNIA ALPHABET. As the previous article did, this one will look at three pieces of "hardware," a computer’s central processing unit (CPU), a monitor (with a cathode ray tube or CRT device) and a printer. These pieces of equipment contain most of the constituent components (metals, plastics and glass) as well as the hazardous materials found in most electronic scrap today.

The first step occurs when an individual or company has unplugged an old computer, or 2,000 of them, and has called the e-recycling company.

California’s new recycling law has loosely defined a few categories of electronics "recyclers"—designated A through D. The staff of the California Integrated Waste Board (CIWMB) and Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC) did an honorable job of working with hundreds of biased recyclers to come up with as agreeable a definition as they could get from "the experts."

An "A" recycler is a company that basically does very little disassembly and is using nothing more than a screwdriver to get to other workable parts that can be sold or recycled.

A "D" recycler is generally a fully permitted disassembly, shredding and smelting operation. There are many variations, but below are three basic categories of "recyclers" that will most often be encountered.

One type of "recycler" you may encounter is very similar to the person who recycles aluminum cans by picking them out of the garbage (or your garage, closet, storage room, warehouse, as the case may be). These recyclers package the electronics and ship, or deliver, them to whomever pays them the most money. They are simply brokering materials to processing facilities or even to another broker.

Another type of electronics recycler, an "A-Processor" by California’s standards, has designated its services mainly for the collection of equipment that can be refurbished and resold. Dismantling is done on a limited basis, only to access valuable usable components from equipment that has no reuse value as a complete unit. An old computer that has a good hard drive device that can be removed and reused is an example. (Note: Recyclers must always watch that labor costs to remove, clean and test certain components do not exceed the recoverable value of the components.)

OEMs and other specialized facilities "harvest" much more from equipment because of their specific capabilities and requirements. A company that repairs and refurbishes newer monitors will in fact remove plastic housings, bases, circuit boards and other items as potential replacements, perhaps as a part of an OEM repair/replacement program. A company that specializes in one particular type of computer will harvest buttons, bezels, wiring harnesses and other items for use as replacements on warranty returns. However these are distinctly specialized cases where specific products less than five years old are their core business, and they do hundreds of the exact same units.

Many companies will have leftover parts and pieces collected in bulk bins, such as Gaylord boxes. The leftover items will have residual plastics and metals value and can be picked up by a broker or by a recycler defined in California as a "B-Processor."

In California, a "B-Processor" recycles electronics equipment for the recovery of usable electronics and components. The company may handle very large contracts with companies for the recovery of excess and obsolete inventories and may provide for end-of-lease equipment management and other large-volume equipment acquisitions primarily for reuse recovery. This company may also "harvest" usable components from equipment that may be damaged "New Returns." These items can be reinstalled into other repairable returns. Today’s OEM is quickly and effectively seeing the value in creating this kind of program either within its organization or through partnerships.

"C-Processors," according to the classification system in place in California, can offer the services detailed above and additionally may have a shredder, hammer mill or some other sort of destruction equipment. They do not carry hazardous materials treatment permits or other permits to meet smelting requirements.

A "D-Processor" may perform some of the tasks above as well as meet the environmental standards necessary to offer smelting.

DOING THE MATH. Depending on labor costs and the value of the component, it can be more equitable to remove components for reuse in addition to being an environmentally responsible practice.

This recovery practice is managed on a fine economic value line, but these areas of added recovery and reuse or recycling are an integral part of any recycler’s business model.

However, the "D-Processor’s" primary and original business model may be that of a secondary or primary smelter. In layman’s terms, a secondary smelter is a company that collects, shreds and melts a sample of the bulk materials to assess the recoverable metals content for payment. The material is then sent to a specific primary smelter for the recovery of the "primary" metals.

A "D-Processor" is likely to be fully permitted to transfer, store, treat and properly dispose of hazardous wastes (TSDF) and will retain required local, state and federal permits to do specific work where byproducts of the process might contaminate air, water, land and/or persons as a result.

This company may also specialize in treating materials such as lead and may even specialize in recovering the lead from CRT glass, recycling it for new product uses. This company will undoubtedly carry several specific insurance policies—workers compensation, liability and environmental insurance that ensures effective cost coverage should an accident occur at its facility or at a downstream processing facility where financial assistance is needed in the cleanup. The company is "for-profit" and impressive in its size and in the amount of equipment needed to provide these services, care for its employees and protect the environment.

RAW MATERIALS MARKETS. So, here’s the fun part—or certainly the part that most interests traditional recyclers. After all the good components have been removed and harvested or the equipment is determined to be too old to make this worthwhile, the process of liberating the metals, glass and plastics for recycling begins.