Insights post (May 2017) on recovering plastics from electronics recycling streams. E-plastics are complex: resin types, downstream markets, and how plastics are used in devices all create nuance. Sorting, recycling, and marketing plastics from end-of-life devices can be painstaking and economically challenging — yet plastics content in electronics continues to rise.
Why e-plastics are hard
A typical plastics recycler often avoids the stream. Variety of resins — including ABS, HIPS, EPS, and PC/ABS — differs by device type (CRT housings, flat panels, printers, keyboards). A typical CRT device may be roughly 12–15% e-plastics by weight; flat screens often 20–24%; printers about half; keyboards and mice often more than 80% plastics (figures cited from industry reporting available when the original post was published).
After dismantling and shredding, processors committed to e-plastics recovery try to separate plastics into cleaner streams for downstream buyers. Buyers can be selective; material that is not recovered often heads to landfill at ongoing cost.
Brominated flame retardants and markets
Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) have been a historical barrier. Older TVs and computers may still contain them. Domestic markets for BFR-containing recycled plastics have been limited; non-BFR plastics have often commanded a premium, and much material has been shipped abroad for further recycling. The EU restricted BFRs in electronic products under RoHS beginning in 2003; OEM moves away from BFRs improve the outlook for newer scrap over time.
What moves recovery forward
- Better resin separation to support higher prices and closed-loop initiatives with manufacturers.
- Reliable volume — manufacturers need a constant supply of consistent material to run a product line.
- Processor investment in separation equipment, baling, and storage so loose plastics do not overwhelm floor space.
As complex as the stream is, electronics processors increasingly treat e-plastics as a commodity that will drive North American investment over time. For facilities pursuing responsible electronics recycling certification, see Paradygm’s preferred R2v3 + ISO path.