Electronic Recycling - The Reality

I was at my daughter's high school today for an open house. In one of the classes I saw a poster board about E-Recycling as I passed, so I went in to talk to the student. The student was talking about how they could use Electronic Recycling for raising money for schools. So I asked, since we are in California, which recycler they were using. And they mentioned a company for cell phones. I asked what they got paid for, and got the answer that showed a lack of understanding of the economics of Electronic Recycling.

There are a few non-profit Electronic Recyclers, but the largest ones are for profit. And they are willing to pay collectors and larger sources for display devices covered under SB20/SB 50. The majority of the money is in CRT's still (this is changing). Cell Phones have a higher per pound value and with the huge turnover our a source of funds, but with businesses changing over entire offices from CRT's to LCD's, and at 20 cents or so payments from Collectors, and with each CRT weighing 20 lbs or more, this is a great source of funds. With schools, many of them have smarted up and have applied to become collectors or are actually setting up their used electronics for bidding.

So what is the value of a CRT?

• Some people still use CRT's, so rumor has it some Electronic Recyclers don't go through the hassle of recycling, but just export container loads and make a few dollars. Recycling gets into lead glass issues which is a headache (it should be recycled into more CRT's, but how many CRT's are still being made?).
• The Copper Yoke is worth a few dollars.
• The Printed Circuit boards are worth a few pennies per lbs.
• The plastic case of a CRT can be sold. Crushed and bailed using a bailer.
• If a TV with a wood case, the wood needs to be disposed of. Some places can recycle it, but most don't.
  
• The leaded glass costs money to dispose of. It's supposed to go to glass to glass operation or a lead smelter.
  
• To take apart a CRT costs money.

A good article - One year later: a California electronics recycler looks at the experience of implementing SB20