What occurs to your previous cell phones after you set them in e-waste bins

AFTER THE SORTING AND WEIGHING

After they’re collected, cell phones are handed over to recycler Virogreen, which is situated throughout the identical Tuas industrial space.  

As much as 90 per cent of a cell phone may be recycled, Virogreen informed CNA. 

As soon as acquired, the load – whether or not baggage or pallets – containing cell phones is weighed, stated its director of enterprise growth Tommy Yeo.

Telephones are then dropped at a well-lit desk on the nook of the ability, the place they’re manually dissected by staff donning security glasses and gloves. 

Components such because the telephone’s display, plastic cowl, battery and mainboard, often known as the printed circuit board, are separated into completely different packing containers. As solely a small quantity of every half may be obtained from every telephone, Virogreen will often wait to hit a sure weight for every half earlier than sending them to downstream recyclers. 

For instance, Virogreen collects 25,000kg of printed circuit boards – from each cell phones and different electronics – earlier than sending them for processing. 

Throughout processing, treasured metals equivalent to gold, silver, platinum and different extra widespread metals like copper, tin and zinc, may be extracted from the mainboard. The battery comprises cadmium, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper and aluminum whereas the touchscreen can include glass and plastic. 

After harvesting, these supplies may be remade into new merchandise. The ten per cent of a cell phone that can not be recycled will go into the incinerator.