23
Selection of disassembly tools is a necessary step to properly carry out the dismantling sequence and prepare a team of workers. Disassembly can be carried out
manually, on semiautomated or automated lines and using systems equipped with
robots (Kang and Schoenung 2005; Williams 2006; Li et al. 2017). Selection of
tools is easier for larger batches of waste equipment belonging to the same
category.
Economic evaluation of the disassembly process must take the following factors
into consideration:
• Disassembly time
• Disassembly costs – including labor cost, transportation and processing of materials, tools, machines, and total power consumption
• Cost of the utilization of hazardous substances
• Revenues – based on the market price of acquired materials and components to
be sold to other enterprises
Table 2.1 presents the main attributes of possible disassembly methods including
manual, semiautomated, automated, and supported by robots (Santochi et al. 2002;
ElSayed et al. 2012).
2.3 E-waste Processing Costs and Revenues
Each disassembly method incurs fixed and variable costs. For installations capable
of processing a high volume of waste electrical and electronic equipment and where
labor cost is high, the only rational solution is a combination of automated or robotic
line with the minimal necessary support of manual disassembly (Kang and
Schoenung 2006; Bakar and Rahimifard 2008). In the countries where the labor cost
is low, manual dismantling methods are commonly applied (Wath et al. 2011; Li
et al. 2013). After disassembly, each recycling plant can offer various types of materials for sale for third parties. Their purity depends on the applied technology in
sorting. As the output, it can be ferrous and nonferrous metals, plastics of various
grain sizes and also complete parts, or assemblies (e.g., compressors, printed circuit
boards – mainboards, memory cards, etc.). Large parts or assemblies of homogenous materials can be removed and separated manually – their potential value can
be higher than processed material acquired after shredding and separation.
Figure 2.3 shows the components – copper pipes removed from refrigerators
after manual cutoff and fine grains of copper after shredding and separating, received
at the end. The processed fraction of copper is high purity but consists of other metals, and therefore the price offered by copper smelter is lower than 10–20% of the
manually disassembled copper components.
Separate lines for disassembling various categories of waste electrical and electronic equipment should be installed in a recycling plant. Each of them should be
capable of providing specific tasks for the removal of hazardous substances, disassembling individual components, including power supply units, printed circuit
2 Reconfigurable Recycling Systems of E-waste
Selection of disassembly tools is a necessary step to properly carry out the dismantling sequence and prepare a team of workers. Disassembly can be carried out
manually, on semiautomated or automated lines and using systems equipped with
robots (Kang and Schoenung 2005; Williams 2006; Li et al. 2017). Selection of
tools is easier for larger batches of waste equipment belonging to the same
category.
Economic evaluation of the disassembly process must take the following factors
into consideration:
• Disassembly time
• Disassembly costs – including labor cost, transportation and processing of materials, tools, machines, and total power consumption
• Cost of the utilization of hazardous substances
• Revenues – based on the market price of acquired materials and components to
be sold to other enterprises
Table 2.1 presents the main attributes of possible disassembly methods including
manual, semiautomated, automated, and supported by robots (Santochi et al. 2002;
ElSayed et al. 2012).
2.3 E-waste Processing Costs and Revenues
Each disassembly method incurs fixed and variable costs. For installations capable
of processing a high volume of waste electrical and electronic equipment and where
labor cost is high, the only rational solution is a combination of automated or robotic
line with the minimal necessary support of manual disassembly (Kang and
Schoenung 2006; Bakar and Rahimifard 2008). In the countries where the labor cost
is low, manual dismantling methods are commonly applied (Wath et al. 2011; Li
et al. 2013). After disassembly, each recycling plant can offer various types of materials for sale for third parties. Their purity depends on the applied technology in
sorting. As the output, it can be ferrous and nonferrous metals, plastics of various
grain sizes and also complete parts, or assemblies (e.g., compressors, printed circuit
boards – mainboards, memory cards, etc.). Large parts or assemblies of homogenous materials can be removed and separated manually – their potential value can
be higher than processed material acquired after shredding and separation.
Figure 2.3 shows the components – copper pipes removed from refrigerators
after manual cutoff and fine grains of copper after shredding and separating, received
at the end. The processed fraction of copper is high purity but consists of other metals, and therefore the price offered by copper smelter is lower than 10–20% of the
manually disassembled copper components.
Separate lines for disassembling various categories of waste electrical and electronic equipment should be installed in a recycling plant. Each of them should be
capable of providing specific tasks for the removal of hazardous substances, disassembling individual components, including power supply units, printed circuit
2 Reconfigurable Recycling Systems of E-waste