Back to: SRI Online Training on E-Waste Management
Products of
WEEE processing
In this section of the module, we’ll be exploring what products are usually affiliated with WEEE processing.
Single-material Fractions
Examples include:
Metal scrap
- Ferrous scrap
- Stainless steel
- Copper
- Aluminium
- Brass
- Bronze
- High alloyed nickel steel
Plastics
- BFR-ABS
- BFR-HIPS
- ABS
- HIPS
- PP
- PC/ABS
- PMMA
- etc.
Other
- Glass
- Wood
- Cardboard
- Paper
WARNING
Items in a red font have hazardous fractions and must be handled carefully
Mixed-material Fractions
Examples include:
Problematic
Fractions
- Batteries (LIB, lead acid, other)
- Capacitors (PCB, electrolyte)
- Gas discharge lamps
- Hg-containing backlights
- Mercury switches
- Printer cartridges
- CRT-tubes
- Oils (compressor,
transformer, radiator) - Coolants
- Insulation foams
- Asbestos
- Radioactive components
Less Problematic Fractions
- Printed circuit/wiring boards
- Cables
- Mixed plastics
Other
- Mixed residues
WARNING
Items in a red font have hazardous fractions and must be handled carefully
Non-hazardous substances
in WEEE
Various groups of valuable metals:
- Precious metals
- Platinum group metals
- Base metals
- Metals of concern
- Scarce metals
Additional Information:
- Handling is safe, if workers are trained.
- WEEE has highly valuable materials for secondary market:
- Printed Circuit Board can contain up to 1.600 mg/Kg gold (0,16%), while some ore bodies only contain up to 18 mg/Kg gold (0,0018%).
- The estimated value of secondary resources in e-waste worldwide was estimated to be 55 billion euros in 2016.
| Material | Group | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | Precious metals (PMs) | Primarily in all boards as pure metal or plating of connectors |
| Silver | Precious metals (PMs) | Primarily in all boards |
| Platinum | Platinum group metals (PGMs) | Primarily in all boards |
| Copper | Base metals (BMs) | Copper wire, printed wire board tracks, component leads. |
| Aluminium | Base metals (BMs) | Used in heat sink and connectors. |
| Palladium | Scarce elements (SEs) | Bipolar junction transistors |
| Iron | Ferrous metals | Steel chassis, cases and fixings |
| Lithium | Metals of concern (MCs) | Lithium ion batteries |
| Silicon | – | Glass, transistors, ICs, printed wire boards |