Electrical waste

The electric waste include discarded household appliances like washing machines and/or drying machines, dish washers, micro waves, electric heating devices, TA stoves, small appliances like vacuum cleaners, toasters, boring machines, power saw, polishing machines, automatic machine for hot and cold drink, etc.

The whole recycling process of electric waste is performed within specially designed working space, on technology lines which are described in the Study about influence on the environment, approved by the Ministry of Science and Environment Protection.

Equipment which is categorized as “out of order” is dismantled by skilled workers with special tools and components and material are sorted in the following groups:

  • Iron

  • Plastics

  • Copper

  • Aluminium

  • Stainless steel

  • Glass

  • Isolation material (PUR foam, glass wool)

  • Rubber

  • Cables

  • PCB

  • Heaters

  • Bricks

  • Other (insulating tape, textile, etc.)

Certain electric devices and appliances contain oil which is simply separated and stored in special metal containers with designation tags. Collected oil is sampled by an accredited laboratory and after the contents of oil is determined, an authorized company for oil collection is responsible to remove it, or it may be exported in case that no authorized company in Serbia exist for such a kind of oil.

Skilled workers separate and classify the material which is treated and temporary stored as recyclable or non-recyclable components. Within the recycling centre the treatment of plastic, paper, card board and cable components are treated . Plastic components are classified in several categories, granulized and stored in a depot of finished products.

Washing machine recycling

Disassemble of a washing machine:

The upper metal plate is taken off with pneumatic tools, then cables and programmer are removed. Electric motor and condenser are demounted. They represent hazardous waste, so they are packed properly for transportation.

The door which consists of metal frame and glass is taken from the housing and is disassembled. In the end concrete weighs, stainless steel drum, plastic hose and the pump are separated. Metal housing is iron waste. All sorted secondary raw material is closed into packing containers with designation tags.

Refrigerator recycling

Procedure of disassemble of a refrigerator:

With hand pneumatic tools the outer plates are taken off and then the cables are disconnected. Hazardous waste are the power parts, which are closed into packing containers with designation tags, ready for transportation. Freon is hazardous waste and it is collected and stored in an adequate way, which is regulated by the law. When certain quantity of such a hazardous waste is collected, an authorized company for the collection of waste takes it away and the rest of non-hazardous waste is classified in the store house.

Other kinds of electric and electronic devices are disassembled in a similar way according to the regulations about the waste.