Effects of a computer recycling plant?

Question

How much would it cost to build a computer recycling plant? What effects would if have on the economy of the county it was built in?

Answer 1

The cost would vary by country. If you are in a modernized country like the US, it would be very expensive, because we have such strict environmental laws and there are so many toxic substances in computers. In a poor country, anyone could say the are a recycling plant and just let anyone strip the materials without any safety precautions and it would be very inexpensive. For many years the US shipped most of its ewaste to poor countries where workers were exposed to a variety of toxic substances, and much of the toxic waste ended up in the water supplies of the communities. It was seen as an economic benefit, but now these communities are suffering from a variety of illness caused by the pollutants.

Answer 2

There are companies that recycle computers for free. Once a year they send a truck to our town and pick up printers, computers, coffee machines and some other acceptable appliances. I imagine it is not that cost effective yet or else our recycling facility would accept these appliances without charging us money. All other recycled items are accepted for free. I imagine some towns would object to this type of a plant because many of the parts are hazard waste. Most people don't know how to rid the computer of its memory that is embedded in ways that can be recovered by experts. This plant could have a field day with machines that came from corporations with hidden secrets. I try to keep my computer for a long time but the software becomes obsolete before my computer dies. Don't you just hate that? Maybe a plant like you are suggesting could also assist us in keeping our computers around longer by fixing or update old style equipment.

Answer 3

Too many variables are involved.



The regulatory burden does not make it an inexpensive proposition either.



Also too it matters how much of the process you plan to take on. Some things are not cost effective.



For that reason, many companies just strip the systems to a certain point, process the boards to a certain point, and some items are left as an assembly. If you plan to deconstruct to the bare boards- forget it. You labor costs and mitigation costs will cost you more than you will take iin.



However, If you deconstruct only to boards, wire, drives, and removable pieces, which is what most profitable companies do, not counting permitting or other regulatory burden, you can accomplish that in a slab on grade building as small as 1200 square feet, so whatever 2 to5 Acres cost, permits in your state, the cost of the building with insulation and heating and cooling, as well as restrooms, etc, that is your basic startup cost without employees. Employees are expensive and you would need at 1 experienced in deconstruction of equipment who knows what the are looking at.. This is not including storage equipment, material handling, and consumables.



You can also process other consumer electronics as well. Storage becomes and issue after a while as well- which is why plastic will be a big problem for you.



Unless you have a buyer lined up for plastics, get used to landfilling it.



http://www.wastenews.com

http://www.resourcerecyclingmagazine.com