Suggested treatment of small IT and telecommunication equipment in emerging economies
| Examples for products covered | Mobile phones, GPS, Pocket calculators, Routers, Personal computers, Printers, Telephones. |
| Specifics of this group | · Plastics and non-ferrous metals (relatively high concentration of precious and critical metals) predominate
· Positive value (material value > treatment costs) |
| Hazardous components | Different types of dangerous batteries, displays, capacitors, … |
| Suggested treatment | Manual dismantling |
| Productivity * | 100 – 200 tons per worker per year |
| Minimum quantity (to establish profitable operations) * | 300 tons per year (2 worker) together with other input products |
| Start- up investment * | 15-20.000 € (working tables, compressor with pneumatic tools, safety clothes, gitterboxes (EUR-box pallets or Euro-mesh-box-pallets), storage boxes, EHS training, …) |
| Potential next investments in technology when volumes increase * | · Bailer to reduce volume of outgoing fraction
Investment: 10.000 €
· Shredding and material separation Productivity: 1 ton per hour Minimum quantity: 1.000 tons per year Investment: 40-50.000 € |
* All numbers mentioned are estimates based on personal experience and prices of 2015!