Computer & electronic recycling in Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines

The waste fleet around the world is constantly evolving, as the production of e-waste increases over the years. There are 56 million tons of e-waste on the whole planet. About 12 million tons of this e-waste is made up of computer equipment. This large amount of computer waste encourages us to sound the alarm: it must be remedied as soon as possible. Computer recycling is then the number 1 solution, because it is both healthy and ecological. This is the gesture to adopt to protect the planet from certain destruction.

Why is computer recycling so important?

This solution consists of recycling e-waste, such as computers, electronic battery, computer mice, all kinds of laptop or cell phone, hard drives, etc. According to some research, the world’s population tends to throw their e-waste anywhere to get new computer hardware. True, this is normal behavior, but computer components are dangerous for the ecosystem. Although most are recyclable, the place of e-waste is not the same as household waste, hence the need for recycling.

Thanks to electronic recycling, old computer equipment is regaining its usefulness. They are used to recompose other computer hardware. Thus, they serve as spare parts or are recycled.

Hardware recycling: recyclable e-waste

The computer screen, central unit, hard drive, electronic battery, mobile phones, etc. are made up of recyclable elements. However, each material has its own recyclable components.

The processor

Known as Intel or AMD, this component is an essential part of the operation of a computer. Featuring two or more cores, the processor can be composed of gold and other precious metals like silver and palladium. Other ferrous metals, such as aluminum and copper, can also be used for wired processor links. It is these metal elements that are, in most cases, recycled and reused to assemble new computer components.

The motherboard

This element of the computer also plays an important role in the operation of the machine: it connects each component of the computer. It contains lead, a metal that produces a significant ecological impact, while it can be thrown anywhere. By recycling the motherboard, gold and aluminum can be collected to reuse them on new computer equipment.

The PCI card

The daughter card is commonly used to link other expansion cards to the computer. Also essential for the proper functioning of the machine, the PCI card can equip a mobile phone or other electronic devices once recycled. It is composed of aluminum and gold.

RAM or RAM

This computer component is used to store data. Recycled, RAM or RAM allows to increase the storage capacity of the machine. As the majority of its components are harmful to the environment, its recycling is essential.

Hard drives

Whether it is an internal hard drive, an external hard drive or an SSD, the hard drive remains an element of great utility for the computer. Storing mass memory, it can be recycled in part or in whole. Its parts can be used to repair other hard drives. Among them are elements in silver, aluminum, ceramic and glass. The recycling of hard drives is a meticulous and very advanced process, hence the need to call on a Quebec recycling professional in Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines.

Other recyclable elements

In terms of computer equipment, printers, scanners, keyboards, USB sticks, mice, headsets, tablets and others are recyclable. Gold, aluminum and copper are present on the majority of these computer equipment. Even their enclosures are recycled and reused for the design and manufacture of other electronic devices.