Recycling Process

The recycling and destruction process is different for nearly all electronics, however the general procedure for any electronic product brought into the facility goes something like this:

• Before being sent through the shredder, computer and electronics parts have to be separated by hand.
• Any electronic devices with the capability of information storage will be sent to the data shredder.
• Remaining electronic hardware components are ground into small pieces.
• Then, the various elements, such as steel, plastic and precious metals, are automatically separated out and sorted.
• A giant magnet separates the steel pieces and drops them down a chute, where the bits are collected in large bins and shipped away to be reused in new electronics.
• The recovered parts are also used to make new products, including auto body parts, clothes hangers, plastic, fence posts, serving trays and roof tiles.
• Small bits of ground-up hardware from computers around the country are run through a series of shakers that sort the pieces.
• Technology commonly used in the workplace contains potentially hazardous material and toxic chemicals. Batteries are especially dangerous, and require special handling to ensure the waste does not end up in landfills, polluting the environment.
• Pounds upon pounds of plastic are boxed after being run through the sorter as they are prepared for reuse.