The fastest-growing waste stream in the world is driven by the increasing consumption of electronic devices. The Global E-waste Monitor, published in 2024, warned that electronic waste generation is growing five times faster than recycling rates. Increasing by 2.6 million tonnes annually worldwide, e-waste is projected to reach 82 million tonnes by 2030, representing a 33% increase compared to 2022. In that year alone, less than a quarter of electronic waste was properly recycled, leaving 62 million tonnes of recoverable natural resources unaccounted for and increasing the risk of environmental contamination.
As the volume of electronic waste continues to grow, the production of new devices still relies on scarce and costly raw materials. For this reason, recycling, reusing and reducing waste are essential to maximise material recovery. Achieving this efficiently requires a combination of mechanical treatment processes and advanced sorting technologies.
In this context, ELDAN Sorting’s optical and sensor-based sorting technologies help improve the separation of valuable materials contained in waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), processing material that has already been conditioned and prepared for recovery.
Electronic waste recycling refers to the collection, dismantling and treatment of electronic devices that have reached the end of their useful life. Traditional recycling methods often struggle to efficiently separate valuable materials from complex electronic assemblies, leading to significant losses of recoverable metals and increasing environmental impact.
The challenge of electronics recycling lies in reducing the size of these heterogeneous waste streams and separating materials such as plastics and rubber in order to recover metals and other valuable resources. Ultimately, the objective is to recover materials from discarded equipment, including valuable metals such as gold, copper, lead, mercury and aluminium, so they can be reused in the manufacture of new products and devices rather than ending up in the environment.
Effective management of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is essential to improve WEEE recycling rates and minimise environmental impact. Hazardous substances contained within electronic devices must be prevented from reaching soil, water and air, where they can pose risks to ecosystems and human health.
At the same time, growing demand for raw materials and the continuous increase in electronic waste generation make the transition towards a circular economy increasingly important. In a circular model, materials recovered from end-of-life devices can be reintroduced into manufacturing processes, reducing the need for virgin resources and improving resource efficiency.
Electronic waste covers a wide range of devices and equipment, from large household appliances to computers and electronic tools, each requiring specific treatment and recovery processes. In this context, efficient electronic waste recycling solutions are essential to maximise the recovery of valuable materials.
Common types of electronic waste handled in WEEE recycling include:
Large appliances such as refrigerators, freezers and other domestic equipment contain a variety of materials that require specialised treatment processes to ensure their safe handling and efficient recovery.
Computers and other IT devices contain metals, plastics, rubber, printed circuit boards (PCBs) and other components that must be shredded, separated and sorted to facilitate material recovery and recycling.
This category includes small electrical appliances, electronic tools and other end-of-life equipment that may contain valuable materials and require appropriate treatment and separation processes.
Electronic waste recycling and electrical waste recycling present significant challenges driven by increasing technology consumption, shorter product life cycles, reduced repair rates and the growing obsolescence of electronic devices. Household appliances, computers and many other electrical and electronic products can end up in landfill if they are not properly managed.
Without effective treatment, materials and components contained in waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) can pose serious environmental and health risks. This is why advanced separation processes capable of accurately identifying and sorting different materials are essential for maximising resource recovery and reducing environmental impact.
To address these challenges, the strategic partnership announced in January 2024 between ELDAN Recycling and PICVISA led to the development of advanced sorting solutions under the ELDAN Sorting brand.
This collaboration resulted in the MPS and SPS product ranges, designed for demanding WEEE recycling applications, non-ferrous metal recovery and other complex waste streams.
Electronic waste recycling involves a multi-stage technical process, as WEEE contains a wide variety of materials, including ferrous and non-ferrous metals, plastics, cables, printed circuit boards and other valuable components.
To recover these materials efficiently, the waste must first be reduced in size, liberated from surrounding materials and transformed into a homogeneous stream suitable for accurate sorting.
In this context, the combination of mechanical treatment equipment and advanced sorting technologies plays a key role in maximising material recovery and minimising the loss of valuable resources.
ELDAN Recycling equipment reduces the size of computers and electronic devices, liberating valuable materials from housings and components.
Following shredding, the material undergoes several mechanical conditioning stages, including granulation and physical separation processes. These steps create a homogeneous material stream optimised for subsequent recovery processes.
Once the material has been prepared, optical and sensor-based sorting plays a key role in recovering valuable materials. Using technologies such as machine vision, NIR sensors and electromagnetic detection, ELDAN Sorting systems can automatically identify and separate different materials present in WEEE streams.
This stage enables the processing of previously shredded and conditioned material, improving separation accuracy and maximising the recovery of valuable fractions.
Ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals and plastics are separated and purified before being reintroduced into industrial supply chains.
Once the mechanical preparation and separation stages have been completed, the material can undergo a final refinement stage using advanced optical and sensor-based sorting technologies.
Following the mechanical treatment stages, final material refinement helps increase the purity of recovered fractions and maximise the value of the resources obtained.
To achieve this, ELDAN Sorting incorporates advanced optical and sensor-based sorting technologies capable of identifying materials according to their composition, electromagnetic response, colour, shape and appearance. These solutions enable the accurate separation of complex fractions found in electronic waste, improving the recovery of valuable materials.
Learn more about advanced e-waste sorting technologies and material separation systems.
Efficient electronic waste recycling requires technologies capable of detecting and separating materials with different compositions within complex WEEE streams. In this field, ELDAN Sorting develops optical sorting equipment based on sensors, machine vision and artificial intelligence to improve the recovery of valuable materials.
These systems are integrated into recycling lines and operate on previously shredded and conditioned material, facilitating the separation of different fractions present in electronic waste and helping to improve the purity of recovered materials.
The ELDAN Sorting Multi Purpose Sorter (MPS) is a versatile optical sorting system designed for the automatic classification and separation of a wide range of materials in complex recycling streams, including waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).
Depending on the selected configuration, the system can incorporate different identification and sorting technologies, including colour analysis (VIS), electromagnetic induction sensors (EM), artificial intelligence and, optionally, NIR technology. Certain MPS configurations can also integrate MWIR technology for specific sorting applications.
Thanks to the flexibility of its multispectral vision system, the ELDAN MPS can be configured to rapidly adapt to new sorting requirements and emerging material streams. MPS models are designed to operate with acceleration conveyors ranging from 1,000 mm to 3,000 mm and can be equipped with different separation configurations, including dual-bar and multi-track systems, depending on operational requirements.
When equipped with NIR technology, the ELDAN MPS can generate a chemical fingerprint of polymers using near-infrared light. This technology measures the wavelength and intensity of near-infrared light absorption, enabling the identification of different polymer types through a fast, accurate and non-destructive process.
The absorption or reflectance spectrum is directly related to the chemical composition of the material. As a result, NIR technology is particularly effective for material and colour identification in automated sorting applications.
When configured with electromagnetic induction sensors, the ELDAN MPS can detect and separate mixed materials and metals. The sensor generates a magnetic field that varies according to material composition, enabling accurate identification and separation.
In addition, the ELDAN MPS can combine artificial intelligence and machine vision technologies to identify materials according to their shape, appearance and colour. This combination provides enhanced analytical capabilities for demanding recycling applications.
The ELDAN SPS system has been designed for demanding sorting applications where material loss must be kept to a minimum. It is equipped with high-resolution RGB cameras, NIR technology and a conveyor-based feeding system, enabling high separation performance and improved process stability.
Its key advantages include a flexible user interface, colour-based sorting capabilities and the possibility of reprocessing material within the system until the desired product purity is achieved.
The system also features advanced LED lighting with a high colour rendering index (CRI90), VPN connectivity and secure remote access for monitoring, adjustment and maintenance.
As a result, the ELDAN SPS provides a compact and efficient solution for sorting specialised components and materials found in electronic waste streams.
Ferrous and non-ferrous metals, including aluminium, copper and brass, are among the most valuable materials recovered from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Their economic value and potential for reuse make them key targets within electronic waste recycling processes.
In addition, many electronic components contain precious metals such as gold and silver. Recovering these materials helps maximise resource efficiency while reducing the need for virgin raw material extraction.
Accurate sorting and separation are essential to ensure that these materials can be recovered efficiently and reintroduced into industrial manufacturing processes. This supports circular economy objectives and improves the overall effectiveness of electronic waste recycling operations.
The foundation of the European regulatory framework for waste electrical and electronic equipment was established through Directive 2002/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 2003. This legislation introduced the principle of extended producer responsibility, requiring manufacturers to assume responsibility for the costs associated with the management of end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment.
The current regulatory framework is based on Directive 2012/19/EU, which strengthened WEEE requirements by expanding its scope, reinforcing producer responsibility, increasing collection targets and improving traceability measures. The directive also introduced stricter controls aimed at preventing illegal exports and increasing effective recycling rates across Europe.
As a specialist in optical and sensor-based sorting technologies, ELDAN Sorting develops solutions designed to accurately separate the different material fractions present in electronic waste streams.
Its systems combine optical sorting, machine vision, artificial intelligence and electromagnetic induction sensors to process previously shredded and conditioned material, improving the purity of recovered fractions.
This sorting capability helps optimise the recovery of valuable resources such as printed circuit boards (PCBs), cables, non-ferrous metals, stainless steel and different types of plastics, contributing to more efficient recycling processes and supporting circular economy initiatives.
For more information about ELDAN Sorting’s solutions for electronic waste recycling, or to discuss the specific requirements of your recycling facility, please contact the ELDAN Sorting team.
