What happens to the used equipment?

How the method works

What happens to the used equipment? (Part 1)

The division into various recovered segments is implemented by way of processing analyses, which are supported by Empa. In this respect a certain quantity of the same equipment (e.g. PCs/servers) is collected at the recycling company, then dismantled/ processed and recorded separate from the other material flow. During the period 2005/2006, 4 such analyses were carried out, with the effective support of the companies Cablofer, Bühlmann Recycling and Elektro-Recycling, for the following categories:  CRT Monitor Equipment; PCs/Servers; Table Printers and Mix without CRT Equipment.

What happens to the used equipment? (Part 2)

In respect of the other categories, the division is based on figures stated in the respective literature. In the future, further processing analyses shall be carried out so that in the foreseeable future, all categories can be calculated on the basis of processing analyses. The recurring analyses are important because the equipment that is handed in changes over time. 

	Quantity	Average weight in kg	Metals in t	Plastics in t	Metal-plastic mix in t
CRT television sets	247000	29.86	592	2690	161
CE, other equipment	798000	4.34	1909	989	408
CRT Monitors	581000	15.87	726	3292	194
LCD Monitors	79000	5.72	160	151
PC / Servers	419000	13.39	4517	325	29
Laptops	54000	3.51	77	44	24
Printers	615000	11.70	4355	2078	380
Large-scale copiers	23700	90.96	1888	154
Other equipments			5785	3007	1232
Total			20009	12730	2428
Total in %			43.5	27.7	5.5

	Cable in t	Glass in t	PCBs in t	Pollutants in t	Others in t	Total in t	%
CRT television sets	8	3925		7		7383	16.0
CE, other equipment	80		17	42	23	3468	7.5
CRT Monitors	10	4804		8		9034	19.6
LCD Monitors		102	38	2		453	1.0
PC / servers	179		530	31		5611	12.2
Laptops	3	7	21	15		191	0.4
Large-scale copiers	35	19	51		9	2156	4.7
Other equipments	241	6	54	127	54	10506	22.9
Total	605	8949	941	247	91	46000
Total in %	1.3	19.4	2.0	0.6	0.2

How the evaluation works 

The data stated here are merely part of what is possible. In addition to the refining of processing analyses mentioned by Empa, it is now easier to plan ahead for the future. For example, as the figures show, in total we processed 581,000 CRT monitors in 2006, with an average weight of 15.8 kg.

The 79,000 LCD monitors had an average weight of 5.7 kg. If one also incorporates into the equation the sales figures over the last 8 to 9 years, it can be predicted that the replacement of CRT monitors by flat-screen monitors will have a considerable impact on recycling quantities and recovered material segments over the next few years.