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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
Volume 1: Basics for starting up a computer recycling businessof plastic or metal, is then sorted according to the type of material (plasticor metal). However, due to the complex composition of plastics, it is oftendifficult to identify the types of plastics and to sort them out to make homogeneousbatches. Since the enactment of the ISO 11469:2000 standard,plastics composing new pieces of equipment can be identified thanks topictograms. According to a study carried out by the ADEME, CU cases aremainly composed of either ABS plastic (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), ofABS/PC (polycarbonate) plastic composite, or of ABS/HIPS (high impactpolystyrene) plastic composite.Power packsThe power pack consists of a radiator, a fan, some cables and connectors,a printed circuit and a transformer. Several colored cables go from thepower pack to various parts of the computer. To dismantle a power pack,the technician disconnects all these cables and removes the few screwsholding the pack to the computer. Then, he has to sever the white connectorswith cutters, and cut the bundle of cables to recycle each of themseparately. Afterwards, the various components must be put into homogeneousbatches. Some components, such as printed circuits or externalelectric cables, are classified as hazardous waste by the WEEE Directiveand must therefore be treated accordingly.COPERATIONAL STAGES | DISMANTLINGHard drivesThe hard drive is made up of a lid, a metal case, a data disk and a printedcircuit. The technician undoes six to eight screws to remove the littlealuminum lid and the computer board which is beneath it. The other partsof the drive may be dispatched into containers of mixed aluminum. If harddrives are pierced to secure the data disposal, this operation should becarried out under an aspirating hood, as the smoke resulting from it maycontain harmful substances. Some other drives (CD-ROM, etc.) have asimilar composition and can be dismantled in the same manner.Computer boardsThere are numerous printed circuit boards in a computer. The mostimportant is the motherboard, as all the components of the computer are63
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