Is recycling computers and other e-waste a worthwhile business considering the below conditions?

Question

1) Only extract plastics, glass, metals and completely ignore the precious metals

2) What sort of volume would one need to do to make it worthwhile, if the facility is located in a country like China or India where there is ample cheap labor. (I know it would be difficult to answer this without further details, but even a rough estimate would be useful.) Thank You.

Answer 1

1.

The viability of extracting individual elements or compounds would have a lot to do with how the computer components were manufactured in the first place. If they are manufactured in a way that it takes more money/energy to separate them than to use raw materials ... it will never be a viable business.

2.

I don't think that the scale or location of the operation would make a difference at all, as the Economies of Scale and Labour Costs would apply equally to producing the raw materials.

Answer 2

As long as there is a need for computers and computer parts I would answer yes. Besides the basic glass and plastic parts (which may not be worth a lot if just used for recycling for other products) computers contain chips, boards and wiring which can be used directly in rebuilt computers. The only problem with this would be to determine which components were damaged in each computer.

Answer 3

For Electronic scrap metal prices in china, india, asia and the United States go to website Demolition Scrap Metal and Salvage News. Site also provides world wide scrap metal prices and information.

Answer 4

not worth a single cent unless u can extract some gold inside the chips.

Answer 5

you can get prices at a recycling place on how much for what material ,those boards are considered ethier breakage or electrical breakage depending how much of what kind of materials are in it.