Managing mercury in WEEE: A practical handbook

This hands-on guide addresses a critical yet often overlooked challenge in e-waste management: mercury. It is designed to support recycling companies, particularly in developing and emerging economies, by providing practical guidance on the safe identification, removal, handling, storage, and disposal of mercury-containing components in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).

Developed by experts from Empa under the Sustainable Recycling Industries (SRI) programme, this handbook offers step-by-step procedures, visual aids, and real-world examples tailored for dismantlers, technicians, and facility managers working with e-waste.

Key sections include:

• Identification and depollution of mercury components (like lamps, LCD backlights, switches, and batteries)
• Health and safety protocols for workers
• Safe storage and transportation guidelines
• Environmentally sound disposal and compliance with global conventions (Minamata & Basel)