Learning Centre
Getting to grips with environmental compliance
Learning Centre Video
I´M NOT TRASH VIDEO
Our learning centre aims to reduce the complexity of environmental compliance. Here, you’ll find information and educational material related to waste management and compliance, WEEE, batteries, packaging recycling, the circular economy, and corporate social responsibility (CSR).
Our resources
A key feature of ERP UK is our ability to simplify the complex. One way we do this is through our learning centre. Here, you will find informative information and educational material related to waste management and compliance, WEEE, batteries, the circular economy, and corporate social responsibility (CSR).
Services
Why do we need to recycle?
Raw materials used to make, power, package products and devices for everyday use can be used again and again.
*Effective recycling solutions benefit people, businesses, and the environment.
Resources
Recycling saves valuable raw materials and conserves energy.
Space
Our space is finite;
recycling reduces dramatically the need to allocate land for waste disposal.
Environment & health
A safer and greener environment improves the quality and enjoyment of our lives.
Energy savings
Recycling means we consume fewer materials, have less waste to treat, and spend less energy mining and refining new raw materials.
Recycling
What can be recycled?
- We believe recycling should be a simple process.
- However, with so many types of products and materials, and multiple packaging symbols, it’s not always easy to distinguish what is recyclable from what is not.
- To help make things clearer, we’ve assembled an interactive guide of what you can and cannot recycle. We have included additional information about what happens during the recycling process and what can be reused.
Learn about the recycling process by selecting the icons below.
Large domestic appliances
Washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashing machines, cookers;
The first stage of recycling is decontamination: cables and other electrical components are removed; ballasts, plastics, iron compounds and other metals are separated and recovered.
Recycling process
1. Pre-shedding decontamination
2. Shredding
3. Separation
Recovered materials
Cables
Concrete
Capacitator
Plastic
Ferrous Metal
Non-Ferrous Metal
Temperature exchange equipment /Cooling appliances
Refrigerators, freezers, automatic cold products delivery machines.
Products include fridges, freezers, and any appliances with refrigerating devices such as water coolers. Some appliances also contain refrigerant gases classified as Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) and hydro-chlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) that are now banned.
These gases are captured and treated in ODS recovery plants. Cold appliance de-pollution entails a variety of processes: compressors are decontaminated to recover ODS and oils; insulating foam is treated to recover ODS; metals are salvaged and resold, and plastics can be reused for new products. Recovered oils and ODS are destroyed in a specialised treatment process.
Recycling process
1. Decontamination
2. Shredding
3. Separation
4. Foam decontamination
Recovered materials
Gas
Oil
Capacitator
Plastic
Ferrous Metal
Foam
Display equipment
Televisions, screens, LCD, pc monitors
Display equipment includes cathode ray tubes (found in old-style TV sets and computer monitors) and flat-screen TVs and computer monitors, such as plasma and liquid crystal displays (LCD).
Cathode ray tubes (CRT) contain hazardous phosphor powder, leaded glass, copper, and other rare metals. These materials can be reused to make new products. Panel and funnel glass from the cathode ray tubes are also recovered. The coating on the funnel glass is removed and the glass is cleaned for new CRT manufacture.
Most LCD TVs use mercury lamps to light the screen. To remove the lamps, the appliance must be disassembled before processing the LCD screen. Research is currently being carried out to develop more effective, automated solutions.
Recycling process
1. Hand dismantling
2. Cathode ray tube separation (Pb, Ba)
3. Crushing and metal removal
4. Glass cleaning
Recovered materials
Ferrous Metal
Foam
Monitor body and electronics
Circuit Board
Leaded glass
Unleaded glass
Small Domestic Appliances
Vacuum cleaners, appliances for sewing, irons, toasters, electric knives, hairdryers, radio sets, electrical and electronic toys, luminaires;
This is the most complicated WEEE stream as a wide variety of materials can be recovered: wood, metal, plastic, glass, and cardboard.
This category includes appliances for cleaning (e.g. vacuum cleaners, carpet sweepers, etc.), appliances used for sewing, knitting, weaving and other processing for textiles, irons and other appliances for ironing, mangling and other care of clothing, toasters, fryers, grinders, coffee machines and equipment for opening or sealing containers or packages, electric knives, appliances for hair cutting, hair drying, tooth brushing, shaving, massage and other body care appliances, clocks, watches and equipment to measure, indicate or registering time, etc.
These appliances are shredded, and plastics are separated from metals. Initial decontamination includes the removal of ink toners, cartridges, batteries, and cables.
Recycling process
1. Manual pretreatment
2. Crushing
3. Picking station
4. Shredding
5. Separation
Recovered materials
Cables
Waste
Plastic
Fine materials
Ferrous Metal
Non-Ferrous Metal
Individual Components
Lamps
straight fluorescent lamps, compact fluorescent lamps, low-pressure sodium lamps, LED lamps.
This category includes fluorescent tubes and low-energy light bulbs, also known as compact fluorescent lamps (CFL), while old-style filament light bulbs and halogen lights are not categorised as WEEE.
Lamps are crushed and washed or treated in pressurised containers. Specialised machines are used to remove hazardous mercury and phosphor. Then, the remaining material is sorted into glass, metals, and plastics.
Phosphor powder and recovered mercury can be re-used to make new lamps. The crushed glass can be used for furnace linings or, if pure enough, to make new lamps. Aluminium end caps are smelted, and other metals are recycled.
Recycling process
1. Shredding
2. Separation
3. Dust recovery
Recovered materials
Ferrous Metal
Non-Ferrous Metal
Mercury
Batteries
Batteries or accumulators are any source of electrical energy generated by direct conversion of chemical energy and consisting of one or more primary battery cells (non-rechargeable) or consisting of one or more secondary battery cells (rechargeable).
Most types of batteries contain toxic heavy metals, including nickel, cadmium and mercury. All of these metals can be recovered and re-used. Recycling batteries is good for the environment as it keeps them out of landfill, where heavy metals may leak into the ground, causing soil and water pollution and endangering animal and plant life. If batteries are incinerated with household waste, the heavy metals inside them cause air pollution.
Recycling process
1. Sorting
2. Shredding
Recovered materials
Plastic
Lead
Cobalt
Nickel
Metal
Manganese
Acid
Mercury
Zinc
Cadmium
PV panels
Silicon-based PV panels require normal flat glass treatment and no special removal of the semiconductor layer.
Non-silicon-based PV panels require special semiconductor removal technology and isolation of toxic heavy metals.
Recycling process
1. Remove cables, plug and semiconductor
2. Separate aluminium and glass from the PV module
3. Remove labels
4. Reuse or recycle the EVA film and recover chemical elements such as cadmium and selenium
5. Separate into fractions
(EVA film, Aluminium, Wafer, Cable and plastic plug, Semiconductor, Glass)
6. Recycle the glass fraction in a smelter
Recovered materials
Leaded glass
Individual Components
Plastic
Unleaded glass
Cables
Metal
Cadmium
IT Equipment
Centralised data processing:
• Mainframes, minicomputers and printer units
Personal computing:
• Personal computers (CPU, mouse, screen and keyboard included), laptop computers (CPU, mouse, screen and keyboard included), notebook computers, notepad computers
• Printers, copying equipment, electrical and electronic typewriters
• Pocket and desk calculators
• Other products and equipment for the collection, storage, processing, presentation or communication of information by electronic means
• User terminals and systems
• Facsimile machine (fax), telex, telephones, pay telephones, cordless telephones, cellular telephones, answering systems
• Other products or equipment of transmitting sound, images or other information by telecommunications
Reuse process
1. Inspection
2. Cleaning
3. Data Sanitation
4. Repair
Recycling process
1. Decontamination
2. Shredding
3. Separation
Recovered materials
Cables
Screens
Capacitors
Plastics
Metals
Batteries
Circuit boards
Learning Centre Form
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Our services
ERP provides simple pricing and great customer service reducing the complexity of compliance for our members. Additionally, our Data Service produce accurate data reports, which ensure that companies stay compliant, helping reduce your costs.
For all enquiries
- Telephone: +44 (0)20 3142 6452
- E-mail: uk@erp-recycling.org
Landbell Group
ERP is part of the Landbell Group – the leading global supplier of environmental and chemical compliance solutions.
Find out more at: www.landbell-group.com