Recycling commodity plastics is difficult due to the need to separate the multitude of different polymer chemistries, additives, and plasticizers.  Plastic components from e-scrap augment recycling complexity due to the additional separation of plastic from hazardous materials.  A choice is presented on how to handle e-scrap conscientiously without placing the burden on developing counties whose means of separation are hazardous to the environment and human health.  Responsible e-scrap recyclers have methods of separating the plastic housing (primarily ABS and HIPS), compact it, and ship it to be further processed or recycled.  However, tracking and understanding the flow of separated plastic components from e-scrap demanufacturing operations in the U.S. to overseas plastics processors is still needed.  This work aims to review what happens to polymeric components after they leave an e-waste recycling facility, the environmental impacts of electronic products and processes, and how end-of-life impacts can be reduced.

Tracking separated plastic components from e-scrap

246th National Meeting (2013)

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