AKTID designs high-performance sorting centers to recover WEEE and extract ferrous, non-ferrous and precious metals.
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Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment
The main sorting stages for
waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)
- Step 1
- Step 2
- Step 3
- Step 4
- Step 5
- Step 6
Step 1
Supply system
The waste stream arrives on site, either pre-sorted or mixed, depending on its origin. It is weighed, recorded and then unloaded in a temporary storage area.
An initial pre-sorting stage by product category is then carried out to direct the different streams to the appropriate treatment facilities.
Step 2
Manual dismantling and depollution
WEEE undergo a manual dismantling and depollution stage to remove hazardous components and certain recoverable fractions.
Batteries, printed circuit boards, capacitors and cables are among the components removed before mechanical processing.
This stage helps secure the waste streams and optimize material recovery.
Step 3
Crushing
Shredding is at the heart of the recovery process. The equipment is fragmented to reduce its size, release the materials it contains and homogenize the waste stream.
The resulting material is then directed to mechanical and physical sorting operations to ensure effective separation of the different materials.
Step 4
Separating by size
The shredded material then undergoes a screening stage to separate the materials according to particle size.
The vibrating screen is used in particular to remove fine fractions that are non-recoverable or non-combustible.
Step 5
Separation by weight
Depending on the WEEE streams processed, an air separation stage can be added to optimize the preparation of the waste stream.
This technology separates heavy and lightweight fractions to concentrate recoverable materials, including certain metals, inert materials and printed circuit boards, before they are directed to the appropriate recovery channels.
Step 6
Sorting by material
Ferrous metals are recovered using an overband magnetic separator, while non-ferrous metals (aluminium, copper, etc.) are extracted using eddy current separators.
Plastics and specific fractions, such as printed circuit boards, are then identified and sorted using optical sorters integrating various detection technologies (induction, transmission, fluorescence).
The materials are then directed to the appropriate recovery channels.
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What is waste electrical and electronic equipment ?
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) includes all devices that operate using an electrical current, a battery, a rechargeable battery or an electromagnetic field when they reach the end of their life.
This waste stream is regulated under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework, which requires manufacturers to finance the collection, sorting and treatment of used equipment.
WEEE contains both:
- high-value materials
- critical metals
- and sensitive components requiring specific treatment processes
To be recycled, this equipment must first be sorted, depolluted and separated in order to achieve a level of purity compatible with material recovery channels.
SHA and IT&T : the highest-value streams
These streams include small electrical, electronic and IT devices collected mixed together at WEEE sorting facilities.
They represent a significant share of the processed streams (45%) and require the most advanced sorting technologies.
These streams are particularly rich in non-ferrous metals, printed circuit boards and strategic components.
- Small household appliances (SHA) stream : includes small domestic appliances, power tools and household electronic equipment. It mainly contains engineering plastics, motors, metals and printed circuit boards, requiring fine and automated sorting processes.
- IT and telecommunications equipment (IT&T) stream : includes information technology and telecommunications equipment, which are particularly rich in strategic metals. The printed circuit boards they contain include valuable materials such as copper, gold and silver, whose recovery is a major challenge for recycling industries.
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What are the key challenges of WEEE sorting?
Sorting waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is not only a regulatory requirement: it plays a key role in protecting the environment, supporting the circular economy and ensuring safety.
- Recovery of raw materials
WEEE contains metals, plastics and rare materials that efficient sorting processes can recover and reintroduce into industrial supply chains.
They also represent a strategic source of precious metals and rare earth elements essential to modern technologies. - Supporting the circular economy
Optimized sorting improves the quality of recycled materials and facilitates their reintegration into production cycles.
It also enables the treatment of complex materials such as brominated plastics, which are subject to specific regulatory requirements. - Reducing industrial and environmental risks
WEEE may contain hazardous substances that pose risks to the environment and industrial facilities.
Lithium batteries, in particular, present fire hazards when they are incorrectly sorted or damaged.
Some equipment may also contain heavy metals, PCBs or gases with high global warming potential, requiring appropriate treatment.
An AKTID WEEE sorting facility means:
- A team of experts supporting you from defining your needs through to the full commissioning and operation of your facility.
- A robust and reliable process ensuring high levels of material recovery.
- Controlled management of sensitive components and hazardous substances.
- High-performance recovery of ferrous, non-ferrous and precious metals.
- Proven equipment recognized for its quality and robustness.
- Automated sorting operations reducing manual interventions and increasing processing capacity.
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