The E-Waste Management Business of Dismantling involves a manual operation that separates the components and returns them to the appropriate users/recyclers. Elements that can be used immediately must be transferred to the approved refurbished. Depending on the part’s nature, other parts can be delivered to recyclers with a valid CTO or authorised E-waste recyclers. It is the process of destroying, crushing, burning, and melting electronic waste. Only a small quantity of plastic is recovered during the method. The deconstruction process pollutes the environment. Separating e-waste decreases the environmental burden, prevents toxicity, and provides value. Dismantling is seen as a vital phase, which entails separating the components into reusable fragments.
The process of crushing, shredding, burning, and melting electronic debris is involved in the e-waste dismantling management business. A dismantling operation is primarily a manual process that separates the components and returns them to the appropriate users/recyclers. Elements that can be used immediately must be transferred to an approved refurbisher. Other parts, depending on the nature of the part, can be delivered to recyclers with a valid CTO or to authorised E-waste management business recyclers. For example, aluminium and steel parts that do not contain hazardous materials may be transferred to recyclers, while those with hazardous elements must be forwarded to authorised e-waste management business recyclers.
Initial process of Manual Dismantling – It involves sorting reusable components from e-waste (for example, hard discs, CD-ROM / Writer / DVD ROM / DVD writer, computer motherboards, server parts, SMPS, laptop components, storage devices such as DAT, DLT, LTO’s, Ultrium drives, storage libraries, NAS boxes, networking products such as switches, routers, hubs, modems, and so on).
Plastic, iron, monitors, lightweight metals, batteries, LCDs, and other items are separated scientifically and given over to licenced recyclers authorised by the SPCB and CPCB[1]. Before dismantling, we will collect the dust with a bag filter dust collector.
Steps in Dismantling
The steps involved in dismantling are as follows:
- The electrical equipment should be manually opened as the initial step in the disassembly procedure, and each portion of the electronic equipment should be physically segregated and separated.
- The dismantler may use screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers, wire cutters, tongs, and hammers.
- The dismantled components must then be transferred to authorised e-waste recyclers with valid operating permits (CTO).
- Manual dismantling shall be performed on a dismantling table equipped with de-dusting equipment in compliance with the Factories Act to maintain the necessary work zone air quality.
- The De dusters should have a suction hood over the dismantling table that is connected to a cyclone, bag filter, and venting through a chimney for venting a 3-metre height above the roof level.
- The collection boxes should be kept near the dismantling table for putting the dismantled items together. Personal protective equipment such as goggles, masks, gloves, helmets, and gumboots are also required for workers.
- Dismantled parts and components from end-of-life
products should be removed and carefully stored for transit to recyclers:
- Batteries
- Plastic
- External Power Cables
- EEE Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs)
- Toner cartridges.
Essentials for premises of Dismantling Business
The Essentials for premises of Dismantling Business are as follows:
- Roofs that are resistant to water and surfaces that are impervious to water.
- Disassembled spare part storage area.
- Batteries, capacitors containing PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls), and PCTs (Polychlorinated chlorinated triphenyls) (Polychlorinated terphenyls) must be stored separately.
Dismantlers need space to store electrical and electronic equipment for up to 180 days, space for the disassembly and volume reduction process, and space to store dismantled and segregated material and accessible space for the movement office/administration. A minimum of 300 square metres is projected to be required for raw material storage, segregated material storage, dismantle activities, and office/administration and other utilities for a dismantling capability of 1T/day.
Procedure to obtain e-Waste management business license for dismantling
Stage 1: Application to SPCB: The applicant must apply for an E-Waste management business License for Dismantling with the relevant State Pollution Control Board.
Stage 2: Licenses: Before applying for an E-Waste management business License for Dismantling, the applicant must receive the following licences: ISO Certificate, Pollution NOC from SPCB, Company Incorporation, and GST Registration.
Stage 3: Documents submission: The candidate must submit the application along with all required documentation.
Stage 4: Document verification: The authorities must verify the documents and inspect the premises to confirm that they meet the requirements for conducting the dismantling operation.
Stage 5: Grant of E-Waste management business Dismantling License: The authority will grant the E-Waste Dismantling License once the documentation has been verified and the premises have been inspected.
Key pointers of e-Waste Management business
The critical components of e-Waste Management are as follows:
- The manual element of dismantling allows for separating useable from useless components.
- Fractions containing recyclable fractions are collected as they have functional components.
- Hazardous and high-value components, such as PCBs, are removed, and the remaining components are transported for mechanical separation.
- Appliances are deconstructed until further manual separation is impossible and dispatched for further processing.
- Mechanical shredding is required for further separation into pure materials.
- ECS’ e-waste management business disposal method ensures that recoverable components are treated properly and transferred for further processing and recycling.
Conclusion
Dismantlers must be prepared to cope with leaks of compressor oils, coolant/refrigerant gases such as CFCs/HCFCs, and mercury from end-of-life fluorescent and other mercury-containing bulbs, among other things. Broken fluorescent lights and oil spills should be dealt with first to keep the substance from spreading to other areas. For the later transfer to hazardous waste TSDFs, dry sand, specialised booms/absorbent pads, stabilising chemicals, and other ways may be employed. Dismantling is an essential phase in the e-Waste management business process. Opening each appliance and separating it from the rest of the components, segregating the pieces and eliminating the dangerous parts, and meticulously categorising other components into marketable fractions is time-consuming. One of the most critical processes is dismantling, which entails separating these components into recyclable pieces that can be reused.
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