Used consumer electronics: a comparative analysis of materials recycling technologies

The useful life of consumer electronic devices is relatively short, and decreasing as a result of rapid changes in equipment features and capabilities. This creates a large waste stream of obsolete electronic equipment, e-waste. In this paper, various recycling technologies for the glass, plastics, and metals found in e-waste are discussed. For glass recycling, glass-to-glass recycling and glass-to-lead recycling technologies are presented. For plastics, chemical (feedstock) recycling, mechanical recycling, and thermal recycling methods are analyzed by application to plastics found in obsolete electronic equipment. Recovery processes for copper, lead, and precious metals such as silver, gold, platinum, and palladium are reviewed. These processes are described and compared on the basis of available technologies, resources, and material input-output systems.