What Is E-Waste?Electronic waste, often referred to as e-waste, refers to discarded electronic devices. Because of the quick introduction of new electronics to the global market, many people discard electronic devices after only a few years of use. The most significant sources of e-waste include consumer products such as: Show
The U.S. is the world leader in producing electronic waste, followed closely by China. Electronic waste is an increasing segment of the larger waste stream and safely processing this waste is essential to human health, the environment, and even the economy. However, processing e-waste effectively poses significant challenges for recyclers and materials recovery facilities (MRFs). In this blog, we share projections for the future of e-waste, how it may impact the environment, and change the global economy. E-Waste Growth ProjectionsThere are growing economic benefits of employing a circular economic model for e-waste. According to recent projections, more than 50 million tons of e-waste are discarded each year. Of this waste, only about 20% is recycled. Every year, the amount of electronics that are discarded grows by 2.5 million tons. E-waste production is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years. By 2030, the e-waste industry is expected to grow to nearly 75 million tons, more than doubling the amount of waste currently produced annually. This growth will likely be attributed to more individuals purchasing products with shorter life cycles and fewer repair options for older electronics. The Health & Environmental Impacts of E-WasteElectronic products can help improve living standards worldwide by providing information, communication, and educational opportunities. However, the growing global demand for electronics quickly outpaces the industry’s capacity to dispose of or recycle outdated products safely. Electronic devices are typically not biodegradable and will not break down naturally or safely when discarded in landfills. Discarded e-waste often piles up in the environment, contaminating habitats and leaching chemicals that are harmful to people, animals, and plants. Further, when e-waste is exposed to extreme heat, harmful chemicals are released into the air. The release of pollutants and toxic chemicals is one of the biggest environmental challenges associated with electronic waste. Challenges of E-Waste ScreeningRecycling or otherwise breaking down electronic waste is a challenge for MRFs. There are several reasons why e-waste is difficult to process. Product ComplexityThe product complexity of many types of e-waste makes efficient material separation and sorting difficult. Electronics are made up of multiple materials, including:
To process e-waste, recyclers must sort the smaller components electronics are composed of and avoid mixing different materials. There are multiple steps in this process, which can include:
Because electronics are increasingly complex, each of these stages is resource intensive. Some stages, like dismantling, require human labor to complete. Other stages, like the separation of fines, are accomplished using material screening equipment. Process EfficiencyAnother inherent challenge of this process becomes obvious: efficiency. With increased production of consumer electronics, e-waste generation continues to rise. As a result, MRFs must continually adapt to increased production demands. Processing outputs must increase to match demand, and cost-efficient processes must be developed to decrease the cost of sorting e-waste. Sorting and screening solutions must be able to handle large volumes of waste, and do so with minimal downtime Further, because the global market for electronics constantly shifts, equipment that can minimize recycling production costs is vital. Material ContaminationHigh product complexity and inefficient screening lead to an obvious issue: contamination. While the global generation of e-waste is on the rise, many of the world’s largest buyers of recyclable materials are tightening their regulations. Higher thresholds for material purity are being established, placing a heavier burden on MRFs to produce a cleaner product. This means less material mixing and more stringent processing. Solutions are needed that offer the capabilities of high volume processing coupled with an equally high degree of e-waste screening efficiency. Many traditional technologies are incapable of meeting these requirements. Aggregates Equipment, Inc.’s E-waste Screening SolutionsAggregates Equipment, Inc. is a leader in e-waste and scrap metals screening. We custom engineer screening equipment to meet the demands of today’s waste industry. Our BIVITEC flip flow screen uses a dual vibratory principle to efficiently sort metallic or plastic fines. The BIVITEC’s polyurethane screen panels are durable and resistant to plugging and blinding. Contact our sales team for more information about our e-waste screening equipment or request a quote to get started today! Request A Quote What does Moore's law state?Moore's law is a term used to refer to the observation made by Gordon Moore in 1965 that the number of transistors in a dense integrated circuit (IC) doubles about every two years.
Which of the following sets of interrelated forces threatens to slow down the progression of Moore's Law?But the shrinking can't go on forever, and we're already starting to see three interrelated forces—size, heat, and power—threatening to slow down the Moore's Law gravy train.
Are substances that are capable of enabling as well as inhibiting the flow of electricity?Semiconductor materials, like the silicon dioxide used inside most computer chips, are capable of enabling as well as inhibiting the flow of electricity.
Which problem is least likely to be solved through grid computing?Which of the following problems is least likely to be solved through grid computing? Linear problems.
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Electronic waste is expected to decrease with the rise of living standards worldwide
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