The Entrepreneur's Guide to Computer Recycling - e-Waste. This ...

Entrepreneur’s Guide to Computer Recyclingc h a p t e r 3DISMANTLINGCOPERATIONAL STAGES | DISMANTLINGAt the end of the sorting operation, equipment fit for dismantling (i.e.equipment that cannot be refurbished nor repaired) is put together andsent to be processed. The dismantling operation consists in extractingreusable spare parts, removing all polluting substances from theequipment and sorting materials so that they can be sent to the properrecovery industries.It is essential to conduct this activity in accordance with the regulations,to ensure worker safety and environmental protection. All handling operationsare potential sources of injury. To avoid accidents, it is recommendedthat a procedure is established to describe all movements appropriate toevery operation. Meanwhile, staff must be trained in issues relating to thehazardous equipment that they work with. Safety notices should be pinnedup in the premises to remind employees of all hazards and the instructionsto be followed. The risks of being cut or of inhaling dust must be monitored,and emissions must be controlled to avoid damaging the environment andthe health of the handlers.Dismantling a central unitThe dismantling operation consists in extracting the various materialsused in the CU, to put them into homogeneous batches that will thenbe recovered by the appropriate industries. However, it is not alwaysnecessary to dismantle all the components of the computer. Indeed, somecomponents may be recovered as they are, if they are sent to the appropriateindustry.CU cases62When dismantling a CU, the first thing to do is to open and remove thecase, to get access to the internal components. The case, mainly made