Tag: recycling

What is E-Waste Recycling?

What is eWaste Recycling?

What is E-Waste Recycling?

Recyclers use the term eWaste or eScrap to describe business and consumer electronic products on the verge of retirement or already spoiled. Both terms represent end-of-life computer and electronic devices. For example:

  • Computers
  • Phones
  • Televisions
  • Fax machines
  • Stereos, etc.

Recycling computers and electronics helps re-purpose these devices, though there are still large amounts of eWaste yet to be dumped to landfills. The importance of eWaste recycling grows daily. The rate of eWaste recycling today is still very poor due to improper knowledge about this process.

Why Should You Recycle Computers and Electronics?

Rich Source of Raw Material: Approximately 10–15% of gold is recoverable from e-waste worldwide. Also, it is said that eWaste contains deposits of precious metals that estimate between 40 and 50 times costlier and richer than their ores beneath the earth’s surface.

Solid Waste Management: There is excessive land fill and solid waste. eWaste recycling helps prevent further degradation if agricultural land and curbs pollution.

Toxic Materials: Old electronic gadgets and devices contain toxic materials like mercury, lead, chromium and cadmium. Therefore, eWaste recycling helps assure proper processing, so that these devices do not release these toxic gases into the environment.

How to Recycle E-waste

What is E-Waste Recycling?

eWaste recycle requires a degree of care. Execute these steps carefully:

  1. Collection of the eWaste from dumping or deposit points.
  2. Break them with a hammer or by hammering.
  3. Separate individual components i.e. plastic, glass, copper, and other metallic materials.
  4. Take individual materials to their different recycling points for further processing.
  5. Pack non-recyclable materials and properly dispose them.

The disposal process takes a degree of care because the company keeps the environment in mind and abides by all safety and regulation laws. Recyclers must follow all EPA regulations during the processing of the computer and electronics items.

Benefits of E-waste Recycling

The list benefits of eWaste recycling to man and the environment at large grows daily.

Reduces Water, Air and Soil Pollution:

What is E-Waste Recycling?

Because of the toxic constituents of eWaste, indiscriminate dumping or disposal can be dangerous to human health and the environment. Residents of areas polluted by the improper disposal of computer and electronics risk developing serious diseases and experiencing certain medical conditions due to inhalation of these harmful substances.

In addition, unprocessed eWaste left on the ground seeps out chemicals that affect the soil, rendering it not conducive for agricultural use. Furthermore, when rain falls, these chemical wash off from the eWaste dumps and flows into rivers and streams. This could contaminate drinking water. Proper eWaste recycling reduces all these forms of pollution.

It Protects Natural Resources:

Most of the resources in nature are non-renewable. eWaste recycling allows the separation of these valuable materials and their recovery. In this way, companies can produce new products using the same materials. This helps reduce pollution, save energy, and protect natural resources.

Reduces the Space Required for Landfills:

What is E-Waste Recycling?

Waste is a global problem and governments around the world are in search to reduce the space need for landfills. Sometimes, these landfills are covering areas that are suitable for agriculture or even for housing. Also, most of the wastes left in landfills cannot dissolve and that’s when the real problems begin. By executing eWaste recycling, you will be able to reduce the space needed for landfills and directly reduce pollution.

eWaste Recycling Creates Employment:

If governments properly educate and enlighten citizens on the importance of eWaste recycling, then people will open new electronic waste recycling companies. Also, the existing ones like Interco will employ more workers that will help in the process. By utilizing this effort, governments support the local economy and protect nature at the same time.

Conclusion

The computer and electronics around us from old computers, laptops, and monitors all fall into eWaste. To learn more about eWaste recycling, contact Interco here.

Recycling Printed Circuit Boards

Recycling Printed Circuit Boards

Printed Circuit boards (PCB), also known as green boards, are designed specifically to support and facilitate the connection of electronic components. They accomplish this through their conductive tracks, pads and etched sheet of copper layer laminated on it.

First off, PCB can be found in the majority of the electronic gadgets and devices popular today. They serve as a conductive foundation where you fix other electronic components, such as capacitors, resistors, inductors and much more.

With its vast use in today’s electronics, printed circuit boards should be recycled when gadgets get spoiled or broken.

Why Recycle PCB?

Recycling Printed Circuit Boards

Recycling printed circuit boards that are populated with many components could yield more valuable materials like:

  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Platinum
  • Palladium

How? The process extracts components affixed to the boards. Recycling PCB recovers approximately 99 percent of the precious and scarce metals from the recycling process.

The copper part of the board is completely recyclable as a metallic material. Recycling PCB helps reduce depletion of natural resources such as copper, as processors often reuse these boards multiple times. Although, after recycling, they must test the boards as the recycling process might damage certain parts of the board.

In addition, because of the excessive use of this type of circuit board in the electronic manufacturing industries, recycling printed circuit boards reduces solid waste, landfill and land pollution.

How to Recycle PCB

Due to the nature of the intricacy of the boards themselves, recycling them poses difficulty because of the several chemicals, metals and glass fibers used in manufacturing them. Subsequently, in order to successfully recycle them, recyclers separate these components carefully to prevent total destruction of scarce materials.

Likewise, there are three main ways of recycling PCB: electrochemical process, hydro-metallurgy, and smelting process.

Recycling Printed Circuit Boards

These methods assist in recovering valuable electronic components, connectors and metal scraps. Hence, the most popular way of recycling PCB is through dismantling. This involves loosening the board from its components. The steps are as follows:

Recycling Printed Circuit Boards
  1. First, recycle haulers collect these used to damaged boards and ship them to recycling companies.
  2. Next, the company drills the boards and loosens them to remove components easily.
  3. Finally, they meticulously remove the components, namely the following:
    • Capacitors
    • TV plugs
    • Motors
    • Screws
    • LED
    • Transistors
    • Switches

Dismantling the boards requires special tools and meticulous handling in order to avoid damaging the board as well as its components. After dismantling, the recyclable materials (copper) melt and refine into new products. Finally, recyclers incinerate any non-recyclable materials for electricity production and properly filter waste water from the process before discharging it.

Conclusion

Lastly, pulling or picking parts off the boards and recycling them is neither economical nor practical. Because of how delicate they are, test PCB after successfully recycling a PCB to ensure functionality.

If you are interested in recycling Printed circuit boards, Interco offers a variety of recycling services.

Recycling Used Beverage Cans (UBC)

Most people do not consider recycling used beverage cans. They toss used beverage cans into the trash rather than in to recycle bins as soon as they consume its contents. But is this right?

Recycling Used Beverage Cans (UBC)

Recyclers refer to used beverage cans as UBC when they are recycling used beverage cans. These UBC are very much recyclable because of their metallic properties and composition.

In addition, aluminum is the main material in producing UBC which has many purposes i.e.

  • Reproduction of cans
  • Foils
  • Kitchen utensils
  • Window frames
  • Vehicle parts (engine compartments)
  • Airplane parts, etc.

Why Recycle Used Beverage Cans?

Recycling Used Beverage Cans (UBC)

Recycling used beverage cans is very important. Recycling aluminum make use of approximately 5% of the total energy and emission required to produce aluminum from its ore (bauxite).

This means it is significantly cheaper, economic and greener (in term of reduced emission) to recycle used beverage cans than to mine bauxite and refine it for aluminum. At Interco recycling used beverage cans is so important.

Furthermore, recycling used beverage cans over and over again is possible without significant loss of its aluminum (metallic) properties. By recycling these cans, it helps conserve non-renewable fossils needed to make new aluminum from bauxite which in turn reduces:

  1. Energy consumption (approximately 95% energy)
  2. Emission of gases i.e. carbon dioxide
  3. Global warming (greenhouse effect)

How to Recycle UBC?

Recycling Used Beverage Cans (UBC)

How then do they get recycled? For the steps involved in recycling used beverage cans, read on:

Recycling Used Beverage Cans (UBC)
  1. The aluminum cans are first collected from can recycle bins or UBC depositories.
  2. Then the recycling company or manufacturing industry uses a shredder to shred the aluminum cans. This helps removes any colored coating.
  3. They subject the aluminum shreds to intense heat temperature in a furnace to melt.
  4. Finally, the molten aluminum is then poured into casts (ingot) to set. Over a million cans get produced from each of these ingots.

Conclusion

Like earlier stated, it is possible to recycle aluminum many times without degrading its intrinsic properties. Thus, if you desire to recycle or selling your UBC, Interco is the top company for recycling used beverage cans in the Midwest. They offer quality metal recycling services. Contact them here.

Recycling Used Lead-Acid Auto Batteries

Recycling Used Lead-Acid Auto Batteries

Recycling Used Lead-Acid Auto Batteries

Recycling used lead-acid auto batteries is very important because of the nature of their composition and uses. People use lead-acid batteries as backup power supplies and to power things like:

  • Automobiles
  • Electric scooters
  • Electric wheelchairs, etc.

The acid provides the electrochemical effect that powers these machines. Like every other battery or power source, the lead-acid auto batteries deplete or dilute and the chemicals start losing its efficiency due to:

Because of the toxicity of the lead-acid batteries, most countries have prohibited the indiscriminate disposal of them i.e. incinerating or dumping, and have highly recommended recycling used lead-acid auto batteries.

Why Recycle Lead-Acid Auto Batteries?

Recycling Used Lead-Acid Auto Batteries

Why recycle your car batteries or lead-acid batteries? Is recycling used lead-acid auto batteries recommended for disposing of them?

These batteries contain acids; toxic acids i.e. sulfuric acid which is very corrosive. They indiscriminate disposal of these batteries can be detrimental to human lives and the environment may lead to:

  • Rainwater
  • The decimation of agricultural land
  • Death of plants, etc.

Therefore, recycling used lead-acid auto batteries is necessary.

How to Recycle Lead-Acid Auto Batteries?

Recycling used lead-acid auto batteries should be done carefully and with all consciousness, preferably in a controlled environment far from residential areas. So, what are the steps involved?

Recycling Used Lead-Acid Auto Batteries
  1. First, recycling companies collect dead or used lead-acid auto batteries for battery depositories.
  2. The recycling company then neutralizes the acids. They Introduce a base that subdues the corrosive properties (toxicity) of the acid so it can be safely disposed of.
  3. A hammer mill shatters the battery or breaks it apart. The process is referred to as hammering.
  4. Then, place broken pieces in a vat, so that the lead plates and heavy materials sink to the bottom while the plastic floats.
  5. They transport the polypropylene plastics into a plastic recycler to melt and refine them.
  6. Cleaning the lead plates and heating them in furnaces so that they melted. After this, cast the molten lead into an ingot mold. After some minutes, the impurities float to the top of the cast and they scrape them away.
  7. Finally, they re-melt the pure ingot casts and use them in new batteries.

Conclusion

Therefore, because of the acid content, it is highly advisable not to try recycling used lead-acid auto batteries by yourself. You can take or sell them to Interco for recycling purposes.

Recycling Solar Panels

Recycling Solar Panels

Recycling solar panels is very important. Solar panels last long with shelf lives of 30 years or more, but become inefficient and worn out after such periods. During expected lifespan, the panels could exhibit percentage decrease in its power capacity. Eventually, these solar panels will fail and you will need someone to help recycle solar panels. Industry experts refer to solar panels as photovoltaic or PV cells.

As of 2016, American homes and commercial buildings boasted more than one million installations of solar panels nationwide. In Europe alone, more than 4-million solar panels provide regular electricity. What happens when these panels have exhausted their shell life? Interco recycle solar panels of course.

Are Solar Panels Recyclable?

Recycling Solar Panels

How does recycling solar panels contribute to the earth’s sustainable redevelopment? Indeed, it is especially important in an era where solar power is the fastest and cleanest growing renewable source of energy in the world. Interco is a member of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

More so, in 2015, experts estimated approximately 500,000 solar panels were being installed globally every day. So, where do all these panels go to after they have exhausted their shelf life? Certainly not deposited in landfills! No, they still possess value as scrap material to the right recycling company. Interco recycles solar panels and returns the newly recycled raw materials back to the industrial world.

Because of the infancy of the solar industry and length of the panel’s shell life. Recycling solar panels may not be that prominent in most countries. In the United States, Interco is a leader in solar panel recycling. They process material throughout North America, the Caribbean, and as far as Hawaii.

What Can Be Recovered from Recycling?

Recycling solar panels helps recover over 80 percent of a crystalline silicon unit from each solar panel. Examples of other recyclable parts of a solar panel are: electric junction boxes, glass and plastics, and aluminum frames and brackets.

How are Solar Panels Recycled?

Interco recycles PV panels according to their types. The two main types at present categorized as silicon-based or thin-filmed panels. As a result, there are two main methods of recycling solar panels:

Silicon Based Solar Panel Recycling
  1. Recycling silicon-based solar panels begins with the dismantling of the panels. This process separates its aluminum and glass. Both materials are individually recyclable.
  2. Then, they subject the rest of the modules to a temperature of 500◦ Celsius. This takes place in a thermal processing unit to ease the bonds between the cell elements.
  3. Once the heat is applied, the plastic evaporates. This leaves the silicon cells for processing.
  4. After the heat treatment, the melting process separates the hardware. The separate the hardware, which is 80 percent reusable, from the silicon particles.
  5. As a result, material is ready for use in the new silicon modules.
Thin-Film Based Solar Panel Recycling
Recycling Solar Panels
  • Recycling PV panels of this type speeds up the process. It completes the process faster and more drastically.
  • Machines shred the thin-film based panels from the mill the material. This ensures all particles are approximately 4-5 mm in size.
  • Unlike silicon based panels, a rotating screw separates the remaining solid and liquid materials.
  • Consequently, the process purifies liquids through precipitation. It also separates them from the semiconductor materials through a metal processor.
  • Recyclers remove the contaminated solid materials containing inter-layer materials. Furthermore, a vibrating surface separates these materials.
  • Approximately 90% of these materials are reintroduced. Most can be used in the re-manufacturing processes.

eScrap

Most noteworthy, like computers and electronics recycling Interco considers the processing of solar panels a subcategory of eWaste recycling grows faster than ever. The importance of recycling solar panels increases more important everyday. Interco is a leader in solar panel recycling in the United States. Interco recycles solar panels from across North America. Even solar panels from the Caribbean find their way to Interco for recycling. Interco often handles the domestic and international logistics services and recycles solar panels from Hawaii as well. Recycle solar panels with Interco today!

Importance of Computers and Electronics Recycling

Importance of Computers and Electronics Recycling

As eWaste continuously grows exponentially worldwide, computers and electronics recycling occupies the bulk of this category. The environmental impacts of computers and electronics recycling raised several concerns in different societies. Computers and Electronics Recycling is here to stay. Many states have recycling programs.

Computer and electronics parts make up a good deal of the sourcing of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Some include traces of precious metals, resins as well as elements of lead, cadmium, mercury, silicon, and other materials.  Especially relevant, recyclers process these by-products and recycle them for manufacturing use.

Computer and Electronics recycling possesses numerous benefits both to mankind and to the environment. Some of these benefits include:

  1. Reduces Environmental Pollution: Computer and electronics recycling helps reduce toxic waste which would have otherwise polluted the environment.
  2. Raw Materials for Industries: Recyclers use the materials recovered from the recycling process such as gold and silver, to manufacture other products.
  3. Source of funds: It provides a means to turn unwanted computers and electronics into money.

Steps in Computer and Electronics Recycling Process

The process of computer and electronics recycling involves some basic steps summarized below:

Importance of Computers and Electronics Recycling
CD Drives-2

Collection and Pre-Processing

  • Step 1 – Collection: This involves going around to homes and offices to collect these unused computers and electronics. Depending on the recycling company, the owners of the eWaste charge the recycling company a little amount. In some cases, these companies charge the owners of the wastes for disposal of their wastes products. Some computer and electronics manufacturing dealers exchange old computers for new ones at very low cost.
  • Step 2 – Sorting: After collecting these waste computer and electronics products, recyclers manually sort the material in to categories. Next, the material enters the manufacturing processes. Finally, they separate the electronics with cathode ray tubes in them from those that do not.
  • Step 3 – Testing: Upon completion of the sorting process, technicians test the material to determine whether they have potential to be reused. If a computer is not fully degraded, it can be repaired and resold. Some are refurbished and donated to charity organizations where they are needed.

The Manual Work

Importance of Computers and Electronics Recycling
Importance of Computers and Electronics Recycling
  • Step 4 – Manual Disassembly: After the testing process is completed, electronics and computers that cannot be refurbished are then disintegrated into their different parts. They often resell functional components to second-hand resellers or back to the manufacturer. Computer and electronics recycling  companies further separate the components into ferrous and non-ferrous metals as well as cathode ray tubes.
  • Step 5 – Destruction of Data: When facilities complete the disassembly, they remove the data in components such as memory cards and completely destroy the hard drives. Accordingly, they process the components to form aluminum ingots which can be useful in the automotive industry.
  • Step 6 – Separation: Once they destroy the data, they shred the materials into a composite. Furthermore, they pass the debris and utilize special techniques to recover valuable components. They use smelting for the recovery of special metals like gold.
  • Step 7 – Reuse: After they complete the separation, they send the different types of materials to secondary recyclers. They take the metal to the metal recycler to produce steel and other useful products. As a result, processing plants recycle the plastics. CRT glass undergoes a different kind of recycling process to remove lead. Companies sell this material to other downstream recycling companies who extract the glass for reuse.

Most noteworthy, computer and electronics recycling is a necessary process for every society to adopt. It helps in the reduction of environmental degradation and provides relevant resources for the production process. Therefore, nobody can overlook the great impacts of computer and electronics recycling. Finally, there are events specifically pertaining to computer and electronics recycling. Contact Interco here.

How to Recycle Utility Meters: the Process

Interco works with utility provider companies, utility industry consultants, utility meter installers and utility meter manufactures to recycle utility meters. With the advent of automated SMART meter reading programs, utility companies are retiring thousands of old and obsolete utility meters every year.

Obsolete Utility Meters

How to Recycle Utility Meters: the Process

Utility companies will retire more old and obsolete meters in the next decade than in the past 25 years combined. The accumulation of obsolete electric, gas, and water meters continues to unnecessarily cost companies time and money. After swapping out old meters, the last thing any utility company wants to deal with is a pile of old, obsolete utility meters. Interco solves that problem as we recycle utility meters.

Interco makes recycling utilities meters fast and easy. We provide an all-in, picked-up, per pound price for analog and digital gas, electric, and water meters. Therefore, the process is simple and painless. We allow utility companies to focus on updating their systems, while we handle recycling the old obsolete meters in an environmentally friendly and efficient manner and recycle utility meters.

Do Not Resell Utility Meters

How to Recycle Utility Meters: the Process

Interco does not test, refurbish or resell utility meters. In fact, we recycle everything and provide a Certificate of Destruction (COD) as proof. We eliminate the potential liability of your meters ending up in landfills illegally. We separate the plastic or glass meter covers or faces from the meters to recycle utility meters. Interco has a wealth of experience recycling meters drastically reducing the material introduction in to landfills. As a result, we provide up to a 98% material recycling and recovery:

  • Separate glass and plastic from the meter
  • Detach stainless steel rings and collars
  • Refine all non-ferrous and ferrous metals
  • Disconnect circuit boards
  • Bale cardboard boxes

Packing Utility Meters

We prefer our partners pack the meters loose in palletized corrugated gaylord boxes. Interco found that this method is much more efficient than a roll-off or dump trailer and maximizes what we can pay by reducing the transportation cost. You can generally get 40-44 gaylords per 53’ van trailer load. If necessary, Interco can provide pallets and packing suppliers for the accumulation and shipment of meters

Consequently, the only thing we require is that you segregate the analog from the digital. This can be as simple as keeping the meters separate in split gaylords. If you need gaylords we can arrange to have them delivered to you a load or two at a time – depending on how many meters you anticipate.

How to Recycle Utility Meters: the Process

Once agreed, we will issue a Purchase Order (PO) and schedule pick-ups in 53’ Dry Van Trailers at your facility. We will then deliver the material to our facility in Madison, Illinois where we will weigh and record each pallet. In addition, we will reconcile the actual weight versus the PO estimate, and process payment to recycle utility meters.

All material will be recycled in accordance with approved ISO 14001 Environmental Management and ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety best practices. Interco confirms the exact weights and recorded upon receipt and we issue a written certificate of recycling.

No Hidden Costs

In conclusion, there are never any additional charges or costs at Interco to recycle utility meters. Our systems remove the meters from the waste stream and provide an immediate cash injection back in to the coffers of your utility company.

Recycle Automotive Parts

Interco Does Recycle Automotive Parts

Recycle Automotive Parts

Interco loves to recycle automotive parts such as Auto Radiators, Transmissions, Aluminum Auto Wheels and  Truck Wheels. In addition, the company recycles Chrome Wheels (Clean), Harness Wire, Alternators, and Aluminum-Nosed Starters,. They even handle Steel-Nosed Starters, AC Compressors, Wheel Weights, and Lead-Acid Auto Batteries. In addition, the company prefers to recycle parts as a specialty.

Recycling Car & Truck Parts

Recycle Automotive Parts
Aluminum Wheels-01

Interco does not recycle whole cars or trucks, however, to recycle automotive parts the parts need be specifically nonferrous. Therefore, the parts must not be in working order. In fact, Interco does not re-purpose or resell any parts. The team works to recycle automotive parts and reintroduce them in to the industrial cycle. Most noteworthy, most of the material ends up in smelters, refineries, mills and ingot makers.

The automotive parts do not end up in landfills.

The most common automotive parts:

Recycle Automotive Parts
  • Auto Radiators
  • Transmissions
  • Aluminum Auto Wheels
  • Truck Wheels
  • Chrome Wheels (Clean)
  • Harness Wire
  • Alternators

Recycle Automotive Parts

  1. Aluminum-Nosed Starters
  2. Steel-Nosed Starters
  3. AC Compressors
  4. Wheel Weights
  5. Lead-Acid Auto Batteries
Recycle Automotive Parts

Interco is located just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri in Madison, Illinois. The facility comprises three buildings approximately 250,000 square feet on just over 25 acres to recycle auto parts. Interco stores material indoors and outside to recycle automotive parts. They bale nonferrous metal as well as cardboard and plastics. They store loose material in bales, in boxes, on pallets, in crates, in drums and in bins. All items are priced in part based on the industrial metals indexes.

Recycle Automotive Parts

The Interco management staff averages more than 15 years in the industry. Founded in 1996 as a computer and electronics recycler, Interco has grown in to one of the largest, most established commercial recycler in the Midwest. Therefore, Interco handles on average 22,000,000 pounds of material each month. That figure represents approximately 10,000 metric tons of material in one facility. Despite the immense size and large footprint, Interco is not open to the public.

In conclusion, more than 400 different materials and combinations fill the Interco warehouse. Interco will buy every imaginable nonferrous metal alloy no matter the origin. However, Interco does not deal with the dangerous or hazardous material.

Interco Recycles Transformers

Interco Recycles Transformers

Interco recycles Copper Transformers – large and small – as well as Aluminum.

Interco Recycles Transformers

Electricians tend to recycle the ones they remove from electric poles. As a result, they also find them in industrial applications, factories and utility facilities.

There are three main Transformers:

  1. Copper (large)
  2. Copper (small)
  3. Aluminum

Consequently, recyclers tend to deliver this material on pallets wrapped with stretch wrap, metal or plastic strapping, or tied down with ties. Sometimes companies deliver them loose in the back of box or dump trucks. Most often, transformers are delivered in steel bins or cardboard gaylord boxes on pallets.

No matter how folks deliver these items, Interco pays for the net weight of the material. However, it does not matter how they packed them — heavy containers are just as good as heavy bins — since Interco deducts the tare weight from the gross weight to determine the actual net weight.

Interco Recycles Transformers
How long has Interco recycled Transformers?
Interco Recycles Transformers

Interco has been in recycling computers, electronics, and nonferrous scrap material since 1996. In addition, Interco recycles baled cardboard, OCC, post-industrial plastics and polymers, and even some steel.

Interco is a member of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI). ISRI advocates on behalf of recyclers and scrap dealers worldwide. In dimes of dispute, ISRI acts as an expert arbiter.

It is not unusual for transformers to come in to the facility already dismantled. When that is the case, it is important that an Interco inspector go through each carton to ensure there are no contaminants. Contaminants can contain paper, plastic, solvents, dirt, and other forms of debris. Contaminants not only make it more difficult to add the metal back in to other industrial processes, but they can add significant weight to the packages. If there exist contaminants, the weight will be off. Therefore, the cost of the material is artificially inflated.

Electric Motors: The Recycling Process

Electric motors convert electrical energy into mechanical energy. Recycling electric motors is imperative because of their wide industrial and commercial use.

Electric Motors: The Recycling Process

Examples of devices we use that makes use of an electric motor include:

  • Industrial fans
  • Blowers
  • Pumps
  • Disk drives
  • Machine tools, etc.

Electric motors generate mechanical energy (force) through the interaction of its windings and its magnetic field.

 

What are the Components of an Electric Motor?

Electric Motors: The Recycling Process

An electric motor contains a number of components embedded in it. These components are responsible for its converting ability, namely:

  • The shaft
  • Copper windings
  • Bearings
  • Armature
  • Stator
  • Commutator
  • Terminals
  • Case

These mentioned components all make it possible for the electric motor to successfully convert electrical energy into mechanical energy.

Why Recycling Electric Motor is Important

What happens when your fan stops working? Maybe it got spoiled by an electric surge that damaged all its components – the electric motor inclusive. Do you dispose of it?

Recyclers buy these damaged fans, pumps, blowers, etc. as scraps and take them to recycling centers for recycling. In addition, they separate the recyclable parts and set them apart for processing. Also, the electric motor is 100% recyclable since a majority of its components are metallic.

Furthermore, most industries use electric motors to produce the majority of today’s devices. Therefore, when they are damaged and do not undergo recycling they could cause landfill. Therefore, recycling electric motors help reduce landfill, solid waste and pollution in general. Also, recycling electric motors help protect natural resources i.e. copper.  One of the main components of the electric motor contains copper windings.

Copper is very valuable, expensive and used in many electrical devices. Rather than continuously depleting its source, why not recycle? However, recycling motors open job opportunities for interested parties. If you ever dream of being a recycler, you learn more from Interco.

How to Scrap Electric Motors for Recycling

Electric Motors: The Recycling Process

Recycling electric motors is mostly done on a large scale. As a result, some electric motors don’t have enough copper windings.

The process of recycling electric motors should be direct and straightforward:

  1. First, the recyclers collect many electric motors as possible to increase the possibility of getting enough copper.
  2. A hammer or hammering mill breaks the metallic casing of the motor.
  3. Then they separate the components and group them according to their materials.
  4. Finally, they take the separated components to their different recycling points and recycle them.

If you cannot do this on your own, you can sell your damaged devices that use electric motors as scraps to professional recyclers and make money.

Electric motors are very common items to recycle. Virtually every electric item with a mechanical movement in a home utilizes an electric motor. Many contain either an AC (alternating current) or DC (direct current) electric motor. Look for common motors that are recyclable in household items, industrial applications and automobiles. Interco recycles them all.

Common household items with electric motors include:

Electric Motors: The Recycling Process
  • Microwaves
  • Hand Tools
  • Air Conditioners
  • Power Supplies
  • Starters
  • Washing Machines
  • Computers

Common industrial items include:

  • Transformers
  • Pumps
  • Machinery
  • Manufacturing Equipment

Common automotive items include:

  • Starters
  • Alternators
  • Generators

What’s inside?

Most motors contain valuable copper and aluminum components. However, the exterior of most motors comprised of steel with a strong shell which protects the more fragile wiring and parts within. Additionally, some motors contain aluminum instead of copper. Most noteworthy. like copper, aluminum conducts of electricity and works well in some applications.

The more copper the more valuable an electric motor is to a recycler. Second most valuable common nonferrous metal found in electric motors is Aluminum. Consequently, steel can be recycled, but steel does not share the value of copper or aluminum. Because the presence of wood and plastic on electric motors is considered a contaminate, those motors contain lower value.

Interco recycles millions of pounds of  motors each year. As a result, recyclers categorize motors in to three main categories of size:

  1. Small motors generally fit about the size of a basketball and not much larger than an apple. Smaller electric motors — usually small electronics transformers in radio controlled cars, for instance — exist are less desirable due to their relative low copper or aluminum content.
  2. As a result, recyclers classify motors larger than a basketball, but less than 2,000 pounds as large motors.
  3. They consider motors weighing more than 2,000 pounds over-sized motors. These motors vary in demand due to their size and nonferrous metallic content.

Conclusion

If your company has a scrapyard full of electric motors, sell them to Interco so they can be properly recycled. Contact Interco here.

Electronics and Precious Metal Recycling

Electronics and Precious Metal Recycling

Since 1996, Interco has been a Electronics and Precious Metal Recycling leader. Most noteworthy, the company provides customized recycling services to dealers, brokers, and dismantlers. Furthermore, it services government organizations, schools, industrial generators and OEMs.

For outright sales or refining of precious metal bearing circuit boards, metallic or residues, Interco accommodates a broad client base. As large volume buyers of precious metal bearing circuit boards, Interco has established long term relationships with smelters across the globe. As a result, this competitive advantage affords the firm the ability to guarantee the clients’ downstream accountability.

Interco was the second company in the world to receive R2v3 certification. The R2 standard promotes responsible recycling. As a result, the business regularly audit our downstream vendors all the way to the end consumers, using the R2v3 standard. As a result, this assures that our suppliers of the compliance and integrity of our downstream vendors.

Electronics and Precious Metal Recycling Volume and Velocity

Of the 22-million pounds of Electronics and Precious Metal Recycling material Interco processes each month, the majority consists of nonferrous industrial metals. However, Interco recycles more than a thousand metric tons of computers, electronics, and telecommunications equipment each month as well.

Items With Precious Metal

Electronics and Precious Metal Recycling
  1. Hard Drive Boards
  2. Motherboards
  3. Power Boards
  4. Server Motherboards
  5. Telecom Boards
  6. HG Boards

Interco buys material to be recycled from the four corners of North and Central America as well as islands in the Caribbean. The increasing transportation costs often pose a challenge when trying to recycle material great distances away. In spite of this, the organization continues to grow and prosper.

 

Different Packages of Precious Metal Recycling

Electronics and Precious Metal Recycling

Interco builds specific Electronics and Precious Metal Recycling packages to be delivered to industrial consumers. Furthermore, these end-users include such as mills, ingot makers, smelters, and refineries in the continental United States and overseas. The staff repackages some of the material in its existing form, while they disassemble some material and de-mill others. Consequently, machines shred other material in to smaller pieces depending on the requirements of the end users. No matter what, they process each item using the safest strategic techniques in the industry.

Material is packaged in a variety of methods and containers:

  • Bales
  • Stretch-Wrapped Pallets
  • Cardboard Gaylord Boxes
  • IBC Totes
  • Metal Bins
  • Wooden Crates
  • 55-Gallon Drums
  • 5-Gallon Buckets

Recycling White Metals: The Process

Recycling White Metals

Recycling White Metals: The Process

Recycling white metals is one of the most practiced types of recycling. White metals are white or silvery alloys, especially tin-based alloys usually used for the surfaces of bearings. These alloys may contain tin, cadmium, zinc, lead, and bismuth. They are Babbitt metals with low melting points.

Manufacturers use white metals for producing:

White metals are common choices for the production of modern jewelry i.e. rings. They have high market value over gold or rosy metals. This is because silvery-white metals compliment skin tone and are timeless, unlike the gold alloys. Examples of white metals are: tin, silver, white, gold, nickel, lead, and iron.

Recycling White Metals: The Process

White metals are powerful conductors of heat and electricity and they are also known to be powerful amplifiers. This now explains why silver is the best conductor. White metals are also non-ferrous metals—They don’t have magnetic features. Their alloys are soft, ductile but tough. They also have a high coefficient of friction.

Recycling of White Metals

Recycling White Metals: The Process

Recycling white metals is usually performed by professional recyclers. These recyclers buy white metal scraps from scrap yards, processes and recycle them. Recyclers recycle white metals in a similar way that metals are generally recycled. They subject the metals to immense heat temperature that is above their melting point and they are cast into molds. Recycling white metals is essential so that they process the scraps into new metals of better quality. The most common use of white metals is in the manufacture of bearings.

Examples of the items that use bearings are: gearboxes, air planes, turbines, pumps, compressors, fans, etc.

Recycling White Metals: The Process

Prior to this list, the need for recycling white metals is essential so that manufacturers can manufacture these devices. Also, recycling these worn out or outdated devices help protect the natural source of white metals from being total depletion.

How to Recycle White Metals

Recycling White Metals: The Process

Recycling white metals is straightforward without much complexity. Recyclers like Interco specialize in recycling white metals and its scraps for further use and processing.

The following steps involved in recycling white metals are:

  1. The recyclers collect or buy the scraps of white metals from scrap yards or deposits.
  2. A metal shredder shreds the white metals into smaller pieces.
  3. Then, they transport these shreds into a furnace. However, white metal alloys don’t have high melting points. The temperature should be set a little above their melting points i.e. 350◦C. This is to ensure uniformity in the molten state.
  4. They mix a few additives i.e. chemicals to improve its quality.
  5. Next, recyclers cast the molten white metal into mold or ingots and leave to cool.
  6. They will transport these casts to manufacturing or industrial companies for further processing.

 

Conclusion

The application of white metals today may not be outspoken, but it is indeed important for the possibility of many inventions. Furthermore, recycling white metals properly helps reduce pollution by preventing it from ending up in a landfill. Also, recycling white metals helps provide job opportunities for prospective recyclers.