E-Waste

Our Collection Points

Recycling of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (E-Waste)

Looking for corporate ewaste recycling services? Let’s start with some definitions, as we often hear the words ITT/AV, e-waste and EEE used interchangeably.

Here’s a breakdown of ITT/AV, e-waste, and EEE:

E-waste (Electronic Waste): This is the broadest term and refers to all discarded electrical and electronic devices. It’s an umbrella term encompassing various electronic equipment, regardless of function or category.
ITT/AV (Information Technology, Telecommunications, Audio-Visual): This is a specific category within e-waste used in Ontario’s EPR program. It identifies electronic equipment that producers are financially responsible for collecting and recycling. Examples include computers, TVs, monitors, printers, and cell phones.
EEE (Electrical and Electronic Equipment): This is a broader term than ITT/AV but narrower than e-waste. It encompasses all equipment with a plug or battery, including household appliances, IT/AV equipment, power tools, and medical devices. Some jurisdictions use EEE interchangeably with e-waste, while others (like Ontario) have a specific definition within their EPR programs.

Here’s an analogy:

Think of e-waste as a large department store.
ITT/AV is a specific section within that department store dedicated to technology products.
EEE is a slightly larger section within the department store that includes technology products (ITT/AV) but also other electrical appliances.

For the sake of this article, we are going to refer to electronic recycling as ITT/AV or e-waste.

Understanding the scope of ITT/AV is crucial for businesses in Ontario that sell, distribute, or import these types of electronic equipment. They may need to comply with EPR regulations by registering as a producer and contributing financially to the program that supports the collection and recycling of ITT/AV waste.

Modern electronics are made of rare and expensive resources, which can be recycled and reused if the waste is effectively managed, saving raw materials.

From big to small, when devices reach their end-of-life they contain a complex mixture of materials, some of which are hazardous, which can cause major environmental and health problems if the discarded devices are not managed properly.

Improving the collection, reuse, and recycling of e-waste at the end of its life can:

• improve sustainable production and consumption

• increase resource efficiency

• contribute to the circular economy

How H2C manages the fulfillment of the Ontario E-Waste Regulation

Collection (please find the list of our collection sites below)
Recycling and refurbishment of collected materials
Awareness and Communication Programs
Annual Report to the RPRA on behalf of our customers

ITT/Av Recycling

How H2C makes it easy for your business

Our expert team will lead you through the process, ensuring your ITT/AV (Information Technology, Telecommunications, Audio-visual Equipment) data is as accurate as possible and that you remain compliant.

Our knowledge of the ITT/AV materials market means we always get the best value recovery and recycling for you.

ITT/AV

Included:

• Computers

• Printers (desktop and floor-standing)

• Printer cartridges

• Video gaming devices

• Telephones, including cellular phones

• Display devices

• Radios and stereos, including after-market vehicle stereos

• Headphones

• Speakers

• Cameras, including security cameras

• Video recorders

• Drones with audio or visual recording equipment

• Peripherals and cables used to support the function of information technology, telecommunications and audio visual equipment, including charging equipment

• Parts of information technology, telecommunications and audio visual equipment sold separately, such as hard drives

• Handheld point-of-sale terminals or devices

• Musical instruments

• Audio recording equipment

Not included:

• ITT/AV equipment weighing more than 250 kg

• Small and large appliances

• Power tools

• Motor vehicles

• Children’s toys

• Textiles, clothing, furniture or any other upholstered or stuffed articles containing Electrical and Electronic Equipment

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

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.