In Rass Global, E-waste goes through the initial stage of manual sorting, where various items (such as batteries, boards and circuits) are removed for their own processing. This is the stage at which some items may also be manually dismantled for components, reuse, or the recovery of valuable materials. E-waste is then shredded into small pieces allowing for accurate sorting of materials, a key part of the process. Most electronics are a mix of materials, and breaking items down into pieces that measure just a few centimeters means they can be separated mechanically. The mechanical separation of the different materials actually consists of several processes one after the other.
The materials separated, are prepared for sale and reuse. For some materials, this means joining another recycling stream. Others may be processed onsite and sold directly alongside usable components separated in the early stages.