DexMetal

Common E-Waste Materials Reference

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Electronic waste contains hundreds of different materials in complex assemblies. Understanding the composition, hazardous constituents, and typical Basel classifications of common e-waste materials helps with proper characterization, waste code selection, and facility matching. This reference provides technical details on the most frequently encountered e-waste materials in international trade.

Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs)

COMPOSITION:

  • Base material: Fiberglass-reinforced epoxy resin (FR-4 most common)
  • Copper traces and pads (12-20% by weight)
  • Electronic components: Integrated circuits, resistors, capacitors, transistors
  • Lead-based solder (pre-RoHS boards) or lead-free solder (post-RoHS)
  • Gold, silver, palladium in connector pins and bond wires
  • Tin, nickel plating on components and traces
  • Brominated flame retardants in resin

HAZARDOUS CONSTITUENTS:

  • Lead: 1-4% in solder joints (pre-RoHS);
  • Brominated flame retardants: PBDEs, TBBPA in substrate
  • Heavy metals: Cadmium in SMD resistors, mercury in older components
  • Beryllium: In some connector pins and thermal pads
  • Antimony trioxide: Flame retardant synergist

BASEL CLASSIFICATION:

  • Y49 if intact boards without testing for hazardous characteristics
  • A1181 if boards contain hazardous constituents exhibiting Annex III characteristics
  • Y31 (lead) if lead solder present
  • H-codes: H6.1 (acute poisonous), H11 (toxic delayed), H12 (ecotoxic)
  • UN 3077 for transport if classified as environmentally hazardous

RECOVERY METHODS:

  • Pyrometallurgical: Smelting in copper or precious metal refineries
  • Hydrometallurgical: Chemical leaching to extract metals
  • Mechanical: Shredding and separation (copper, precious metals, plastics)
  • Direct refining: High-grade boards to precious metal refiners
  • Typical destination facilities: Umicore (Belgium), Aurubis (Germany), Boliden (Sweden)

TYPICAL VALUES:

  • Gold: 200-300 ppm (0.02-0.03%) in motherboards, higher in high-grade telecom boards
  • Silver: 1,000-2,000 ppm (0.1-0.2%)
  • Palladium: 100-150 ppm
  • Copper: 12-20% by weight
  • Economic value often justifies export costs

Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Glass

COMPOSITION:

  • Panel glass (screen): Lower lead content (1-3% PbO)
  • Funnel glass (cone): Medium lead (18-25% PbO)
  • Neck glass: Highest lead (25-30% PbO)
  • Barium, strontium in panel glass (X-ray shielding)
  • Phosphor coating on inner panel surface

HAZARDOUS CONSTITUENTS:

  • Lead oxide: Average 3-4 kg per CRT monitor, 2-3 kg per CRT TV
  • Barium compounds
  • Cadmium in some phosphors
  • Zinc, copper in phosphor materials

BASEL CLASSIFICATION:

  • A2010: Glass waste from cathode-ray tubes (specific Annex VIII code)
  • Y31: Lead; lead compounds
  • H-codes: H6.1, H11, H12 (lead toxicity)
  • Always classified as hazardous waste
  • UN 3077 for transport

RECOVERY CHALLENGES:

  • Limited markets due to CRT manufacturing decline
  • Panel and funnel glass must be separated (different lead content)
  • Lead smelters can process if properly prepared
  • Glass-to-glass recycling nearly extinct (no new CRT production)
  • Often ends up in hazardous waste landfill
  • Exporters struggle to find accepting facilities

PROCESSING OPTIONS:

  • Lead smelters: Recover lead, use silica in slag
  • Stabilization/encapsulation: Immobilize lead for landfill
  • Glass aggregate: Very limited applications due to leaching concerns
  • Declining acceptance globally—many countries now refuse CRT imports

LCD and LED Displays

COMPOSITION:

  • Liquid crystal display panel
  • Backlight: CCFL (mercury) in older LCDs, LED in modern displays
  • Glass substrates with indium tin oxide (ITO) coating
  • Polarizing films
  • Plastic housing and frame
  • Driver circuit boards (contain precious metals)

HAZARDOUS CONSTITUENTS:

  • Mercury: In CCFL backlights (3-5 mg per lamp, multiple lamps per display)
  • Liquid crystals: Some formulations contain hazardous chemicals
  • Indium: Rare earth element in ITO coating (not hazardous but valuable)
  • Brominated flame retardants in plastic components

BASEL CLASSIFICATION:

  • LCD with mercury backlights: Y29 (mercury), A1181
  • LED displays (no mercury): Y49 if no other hazardous characteristics
  • H-codes for mercury LCDs: H6.1, H11, H12
  • Modern LED displays may qualify as non-hazardous if properly characterized

RECOVERY METHODS:

  • Manual dismantling: Remove mercury lamps for separate processing
  • Mechanical shredding: Plastic, metal, and glass separation
  • Indium recovery: Specialized facilities extract indium from ITO
  • Mercury lamp recycling: Separate specialized processors

MARKET TRENDS:

  • Mercury LCD imports increasingly restricted
  • LED displays more acceptable (no mercury)
  • Indium recovery economically viable at scale
  • Driver boards processed like PCBs for precious metals

Batteries

LEAD-ACID BATTERIES (MOST COMMON IN UPS, EQUIPMENT):

Composition:

  • Lead plates (60-70% of weight)
  • Sulfuric acid electrolyte (15-20%)
  • Polypropylene case (5-10%)
  • Lead alloys with antimony or calcium

Basel Classification:

  • Y31: Lead; lead compounds
  • Y34: Acidic solutions or acids in solid form
  • A1160: Waste lead-acid batteries, whole or crushed
  • H6.1, H8 (corrosive), H11, H12
  • UN 2794 (wet filled) or UN 2800 (non-spillable) for transport

Recovery:

  • Highly recyclable (>95% recycling rate)
  • Lead smelters worldwide accept
  • Plastic casings recovered and recycled
  • Sulfuric acid neutralized or reprocessed
  • Strong economic value—often paid for rather than charged disposal fee

LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES:

Composition:

  • Cathode: Lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2), lithium manganese oxide, lithium iron phosphate
  • Anode: Graphite
  • Electrolyte: Lithium salts in organic solvents (flammable)
  • Separator: Polymer membrane
  • Steel or aluminum casing

Basel Classification:

  • Y49 if installed in equipment
  • May be A1180/A1181 if separated and damaged
  • H3 (flammable liquid—electrolyte), H4.1 (flammable solid—lithium)
  • UN 3480 (batteries alone) or UN 3481 (batteries in equipment) for transport
  • Class 9 dangerous goods

Recovery:

  • Pyrometallurgy: High-temperature smelting recovers cobalt, nickel, copper
  • Hydrometallurgy: Chemical processing for lithium, cobalt recovery
  • Direct recycling: Cathode material regeneration (emerging technology)
  • Safety critical: Discharge required before processing, fire/explosion risk

NICKEL-CADMIUM (NiCd) BATTERIES:

Composition:

  • Nickel oxide hydroxide cathode
  • Cadmium anode
  • Potassium hydroxide electrolyte
  • Steel casing

Basel Classification:

  • Y26: Cadmium; cadmium compounds
  • A1170: Waste batteries containing cadmium
  • H6.1, H11, H12 (cadmium highly toxic)
  • Strictly regulated, import bans common

Recovery:

  • Cadmium recovery in specialized facilities
  • Nickel recovered for steel production
  • Declining volumes as NiCd phased out in many applications

Plastics from E-Waste

COMPOSITION:

  • ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene): Most common in casings
  • HIPS (high-impact polystyrene): Monitor and TV cases
  • PC (polycarbonate): Clear components, optical media
  • PC/ABS blends: Laptop cases, housings
  • PP (polypropylene): Internal components, battery cases
  • PVC (polyvinyl chloride): Cable insulation, some casings

HAZARDOUS CONSTITUENTS:

  • Brominated flame retardants: PBDE, TBBPA (5-10% by weight in some plastics)
  • Heavy metal pigments: Lead, cadmium in colored plastics
  • PVC plasticizers: Phthalates (some toxic)
  • Antimony trioxide: Flame retardant synergist

BASEL CLASSIFICATION:

  • Clean sorted plastics: B3011 (Annex IX—non-hazardous)
  • Mixed or contaminated plastics: Y49 or A1181 depending on characteristics
  • Plastics with high brominated flame retardants: May be hazardous
  • Growing restrictions under Basel plastic waste amendments

RECOVERY CHALLENGES:

  • Mixed polymer types difficult to separate economically
  • Brominated flame retardants complicate recycling
  • Color sorting required for high-quality recycling
  • Markets declining due to contamination concerns
  • Often sent to energy recovery (incineration) rather than material recycling

PROCESSING OPTIONS:

  • Mechanical recycling: Grinding, washing, pelletizing for reuse
  • Chemical recycling: Depolymerization to monomers
  • Energy recovery: Incineration with energy capture (R1)
  • Pyrolysis: Thermal decomposition to oils and gases
  • Many facilities avoid e-waste plastics due to flame retardant issues

Cables and Wiring

COMPOSITION:

  • Copper conductors (40-60% by weight in power cables)
  • Aluminum in some larger cables
  • PVC insulation (most common)
  • Polyethylene, rubber insulation (specialty cables)
  • Steel armor in some power cables

HAZARDOUS CONSTITUENTS:

  • PVC contains chlorine (releases HCl when burned)
  • Lead in some cable sheathing (older cables)
  • Brominated flame retardants in some insulation
  • Generally low hazard if properly processed

BASEL CLASSIFICATION:

  • B1115: Waste metal cables coated or insulated with plastics (Annex IX)
  • Non-hazardous if free of lead and other hazardous materials
  • Simplified procedures often available
  • Good candidate for green list (OECD countries)

RECOVERY METHODS:

  • Granulation: Shredding and density separation (copper from plastic)
  • Wire stripping: Manual or mechanical removal of insulation
  • Copper recovery: High purity copper for smelting or direct reuse
  • Plastic insulation: Energy recovery or landfill
  • High copper content makes cables economically attractive

Metal Components

FERROUS METALS (IRON, STEEL):

Sources: Casings, frames, shields, screws, springs

Classification:

  • B1010: Metal wastes in metallic non-dispersible form (Annex IX)
  • Non-hazardous if segregated and clean
  • Simplified procedures

Recovery:

  • Magnetic separation from shredded e-waste
  • Direct to steel mills or scrap processors
  • High recyclability, universal acceptance
  • Low value per ton but high volumes

ALUMINUM:

Sources: Heat sinks, housings, connector shells, hard drive frames

Classification:

  • B1010: Non-hazardous metal waste
  • Often mixed with magnesium alloys

Recovery:

  • Eddy current separation from e-waste streams
  • Smelting to remove coatings and alloys
  • Moderate value, readily recycled

COPPER:

Sources: Wiring, transformers, coils, heat pipes

Classification:

  • B1010: Non-hazardous
  • High value material

Recovery:

  • Dense media separation, eddy current
  • Direct to copper smelters or refineries
  • High purity achievable
  • Strong economic driver for recycling

Mercury-Containing Components

SOURCES:

  • LCD backlights (CCFL tubes): 3-5 mg mercury per tube
  • Mercury switches and relays: 1-3 grams per switch
  • Mercury thermostats: Up to 3 grams
  • Fluorescent tubes in scanners/copiers

BASEL CLASSIFICATION:

  • Y29: Mercury; mercury compounds
  • A1030: Wastes from production of mercury
  • H6.1 (acute toxicity), H11 (chronic toxicity), H12 (ecotoxic)
  • Strictly controlled—import restrictions common

PROCESSING:

  • Manual removal before shredding critical
  • Mercury distillation/recovery in specialized facilities
  • Stabilization for disposal if recovery not viable
  • Never shred equipment with mercury components intact

Practical Guidance

FOR WASTE CHARACTERIZATION:

  • Know your material composition before classification
  • PCBs with lead solder → A1181, Y31, H6.1/H11/H12
  • CRT glass → Always A2010, Y31
  • Modern LED displays without mercury → May be Y49 non-hazardous
  • Lead-acid batteries → A1160, high value
  • Clean sorted metals → B1010, simplified procedures

FOR FACILITY MATCHING:

  • PCBs: Precious metal refiners, integrated smelters
  • CRT glass: Lead smelters (declining acceptance)
  • Batteries: Specialized battery recyclers
  • Plastics: Energy recovery more likely than material recycling
  • Cables: Granulators, copper processors

FOR MAXIMIZING VALUE:

  • Segregation pays: Separate high-value from low-value materials
  • PCB grading: High-grade (telecom, servers) vs. low-grade (consumer)
  • Remove mercury components before export
  • Clean sorted materials get better prices and easier approvals
  • Mixed contaminated waste → lowest value, hardest to place

Common Errors

  • Not identifying mercury in LCD backlights (leads to classification errors)
  • Assuming all plastics are non-hazardous (brominated flame retardants make some hazardous)
  • Mixing CRT glass with other glass (leads to rejection)
  • Not testing lead content in solder (pre-RoHS assumption may be wrong)
  • Claiming cables as non-hazardous without checking for lead sheathing
  • Not segregating battery types (NiCd, Li-ion, lead-acid have different requirements)
  • Underestimating precious metal content in high-grade PCBs
  • Not considering plastic waste amendments when classifying plastic fractions

References

Section: Additional Ref · Type: reference