Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1060280
DECEMBER 2018 I PCB007 MAGAZINE 65 From the recycler's perspective, one of the biggest differences between manufacturing scrap and EOL scrap is that EOL scrap involves more plastic and base metals and typically more sorting. With either waste stream, for components that cannot be directly recycled or reused, the goal is to transform heteroge- neous materials into one or more marketable commodities. PCBs are comprised of a com- plex mix of materials that includes fiberglass and epoxy resins, solder, and electronic com- ponents. They contain copper, and to a lesser extent gold, silver, palladium, steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and other base metals. From the refiner's perspective, the best way to gauge how much PM there is any e-scrap stream or batch is by sampling and assaying. Due to the variability inherent in e-scrap, the more concentrated the level of PM in waste, the more important accurate sampling is and the higher the return. Of course, the value of the batch should cover the cost of sampling and assaying. It does not make sense to refine e-scrap worth $1 per pound in a process de- signed for $8–10 per pound PM residuals. Primary E-scrap Recycling Chart 1 shows a generalized flow diagram for metals recovery from e-scrap [6] . E-scrap recy- clers may voluntarily certify to R2 or other in- Chart 1: Primary e-scrap recycling.