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Entrepreneur’s Guide to Computer RecyclingCOPERATIONAL STAGES | DISMANTLINGbefore disposal. In a PC, the coin cell is often composed of a lithium anode.If some of the lithium is exposed, it may react with oxygen or moisture,generating heat and possibly hydrogen gas. A fire can occur during theshredding operation. A lithium coin cell can be recovered, after it has beenfully discharged to eliminate potential reactivity, by shredding and gravityseparation. The entrepreneur is therefore advised to resell these batteriesto industries that possess the equipment and technologies necessary torecover them. However, some batteries do not have any value and theentrepreneur is responsible for having them recycled by a specialisedindustry.CablesCables can be shredded before being sent to specialised industries orburned in a facility where every measure is taken to prevent the formationof harmful substances, such as chlorinated dibenzofurans and dibenzodioxins.Those cables (or cable residue) can be recovered by industriesspecializing in the separation of copper wires from their plastic sheaths.These industries usually use various physical means to separate thesematerials in order to obtain perfectly homogeneous pieces of copper andplastics.CRT glassThere are two main industries that recycle CRT glass. First, there are themanufacturers making new CRT screens from recycled CRT glass. Theyoften require the panel glass to be separated from the cone glass, sothat they can proportion correctly the quantities of lead in the glass theyproduce. And then there is the lead-glass recycling industry. In this case,glass is sent to lead smelters, to be used as a fluxing agent in the smeltingprocess. Then, smelters can recover the lead contained in the glass.Tubes70Cathode Ray Tubes are made of a faceplate (containing lead or barium)welded to a cone glass by a frit. The tubes contain lead encapsulated inglass that can be released if the glass is broken. Therefore, the entrepreneur
Volume 1: Basics for starting up a computer recycling businessis advised to leave the responsibility of treating tubes to specialised enterprises.Indeed, the staff carrying out the mechanical separation of glassmust be protected from inhaling the dust released when the tubes arebroken, because they may contain lead or barium oxide. Moreover, thefluorescent coating on the faceplate may present inhalation risks if theyare handled in a dry state. This is why wet processes are often used toremove the phosphor particles.CRT Electron gunsThe electron gun of the CRT contains a small getter plate (about 1-2 gramsincluding frame), and bears barium and barium compounds (barium oxideis considered as a harmful substance). During the shredding operation,the CRT screen getter can release harmful barium dust. Therefore, severalcountries require its removal. Once removed, the getters should be storedseparately, away from any source of moisture since barium is a leachableand easily solvable substance. They must be sent to a specialised industrythat can incinerate them in an environmentally sound manner. The electrongun itself can be sent to a recycling facility that can reclaim the copper itcontains.COPERATIONAL STAGES | DISMANTLINGFlat screen monitorsAccording to a document issued by the OECD working group onwaste prevention and recycling, entitled “Technical Guidance for theEnvironmentally Sound Management of Specific Waste streams: Usedand Scrap Personal Computers” LCD screens can be sent to a smelterfor recovery of non-ferrous metals on the condition that the smelter isequipped with flue gas cleaning systems (to minimise dioxin emissions),and prepared to carry out the separation or immobilisation of mercury.Flat panel screens should be sent for either recovery operation or thermaltreatment at an environmentally sound and appropriately authorised incineratorwith modern flue gas cleaning systems. When discharge lampsare removed, they should be sent to a specialised mercury recovery facilityor to an environmentally sound and appropriately authorised hazardouswaste incinerator with modern flue gas cleaning systems that guaranteesthe proper separation or immobilisation of mercury. The WEEE Directive71
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