Waste Electrical And Electronic Equipment Generation Research Articles

Repair and Reuse or Recycle: What Is Best for Small WEEE in Australia?

The global and Australian trends indicate a steady increase in the generation of small waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), constituting 30% of global WEEE in 2019 with an expected 90% increase in Australia over the next 25 years. Given this fact, identifying the most suitable circular economy strategy is vital in managing this waste stream. Hence, followed by a review of the literature, a model was developed to assess the suitability of repair, reuse, and recycling of small electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) by considering the lifespan and products put on the market (PoM) as critical variables. Findings indicate that solely repairing and reusing products, without reducing PoM small EEE, minimally affects short-term waste reduction. A synergistic approach, combining high product reuse with reduced PoM small EEE, is essential to decrease small WEEE generation significantly. Regardless of lifespan changes, the study indicates a proportional relationship between small WEEE generation rates and PoM small EEE changes, emphasising the need for a holistic strategy. Considering this, within stewardship schemes, the primary focus should initially lie on repairing and repurposing small EEE, with the potential for expansion into recycling once sufficient infrastructure and achievable recovery goals are established. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) must shoulder substantial accountability, with a firm commitment to extended producer responsibility (EPR) even for historical products. The initial rollout could target four specific categories: toys, food preparation equipment, vacuum cleaners, and household tools, with the scope widening to encompass all categories following successful implementation.

Socio-economic correlation analysis and hybrid artificial neural network model development for provincial waste electrical and electronic equipment generation forecasting in China

Ability to forecast the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) generation can help formulate a robust future WEEE management system. Previous studies applied forecasting models, such as the grey model and artificial neural networks, to predict WEEE generation from a country perspective, leading to less accurate forecasts due to huge socio-economic differences in rural and urban areas. Additionally, there has been the incompatibility of a single forecasting model for all WEEE types, and this remained a research gap. Taking advantage of respective forecasting models, this study presents a hybrid model, Grey Artificial Neural Network, to forecast the WEEE generation of 31 province-level regions in China while evaluating the socio-economic analysis of seven WEEE types via Pearson correlation analysis. More than 70% of WEEE from province-level regions strongly correlates (R > ±0.8) with the gross domestic product and the population, whereas some top WEEE-generating province-level regions (i.e., Tianjin and Shanghai) correlate weakly to moderately. The root mean square error and mean absolute error of the developed Grey Artificial Neural Network hybrid model are the lowest at 8.29 and 6.48, compared to the grey model (13.53 and 11.13) and back-propagation neural network (9.21 and 7.22). Though the Grey Artificial Neural Network hybrid model has the lowest error, posterior mean square deviation ratio analysis indicates that this hybrid model is only suitable for washing machines, refrigerators, color televisions, and personal computers (urban area), while the back-propagation neural network is suitable for monochrome televisions, air conditioners, and personal computers (rural area). Compared to 2019, it is projected that an additional 32.92 M units of WEEE will be generated by 2025, suggesting that China should build at least 15 extra recycling centers (14% more based on 2016) to handle the increased WEEE generation. This study provides policy implications for effective WEEE monitoring and collection systems to build resilient WEEE management.

Towards the definition of WEEE recycling targets in Ecuador. A case of study for mobile phones.

The rise of consumption patterns of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) and the generation of waste EEE (WEEE) has been strongly increasing globally. Recycling rates (RRs) are one of the main indicators for monitoring the progress towards a circular economy and establishing recovery and treatment schemes. For this reason, this study discusses the setting of recycling targets for WEEE in Ecuador, using mobile phones as a case study. Firstly, the generation of mobile phone waste from 2012 to 2018 is estimated based on literature review. The most appropriate model for estimating WEEE generation is selected according to the applicable market conditions, input requirements and available data. Then, the composition of a mobile phone is determined through an extensive literature review. Based on these results, the materials' environmental impact and potential economic value are approximated using the ReCiPe Endpoint (H, A) method and the prices of virgin materials, respectively. The estimation shows that in Ecuador an average of 2 million devices are discarded every year, which represents an interesting source of resources but currently does not have appropriate management. Ecuador has implemented regulatory frameworks in favour of the integral management of these wastes. However, mass-based collection targets still appear to be the only available measure. Therefore, national results on electronics recycling do not allow adequate monitoring of progress towards a circular economy and largely neglect environmental aspects and economic potential.

The recycling potential of unregulated waste electrical and electronic equipment in China: Generation, economic value, and cost-benefit analysis

Despite the recent expansion in the list of regulated waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) (from 5 to 14), significant amounts of valuable-resource components can be recycled from the WEEE uncovered by the existing regulations. This study estimated the quantities of valuable-resource components that could be recycled from 11 categories of unregulated WEEE generated in China between 2010 and 2030 using the material flow analysis and Weibull distribution-based lifespan model. The generation of these unregulated WEEE is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 9%, increasing from 2.17 million tons in 2010 to 12.1 million tons in 2030. As a result, the total economic value from the valuable-resource components from these 11 categories of unregulated WEEE is expected to decrease first from 102 billion USD in 2010 to 68.5 billion USD in 2019; subsequently, it is expected to gradually increase to 203 billion USD by 2030. Household baking apparatuses and household electric fans are expected to contribute to 55−68% of the total weights of unregulated WEEE, while electronics are expected to be the most significant source of economic value (92.7−98.7%). In addition, recycling electronics is also expected to be preferred from the point of recycling profits. These results can help close the knowledge gap on the economic potential of recycling the unregulated WEEE and guide the development of future policies on recycling WEEE.

Resíduos de Equipamentos Elétricos e Eletrônicos (REEE): desafio global e contemporâneo às cadeias produtivas e ao ambiente urbano

Abstract: In recent years, Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) has grown three times faster than the world's population and 13% more than the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Only 17.4% of this waste is properly treated and uncertain disposal poses risks to the environment and human health. The objective of this study is to present an alignment with regard to the generation, management and legislation of WEEE and its interface with eco-design, cleaner production and reverse logistics. The methodology uses a qualitative approach based on bibliographic and documentary research aligned with the Prisma protocol. The results indicate that industrialization and higher income levels of the population in increasing urbanization have led to an increase in the consumption of electrical and electronic equipment, which, together with the short life cycles of this equipment, recycling difficulties and physical and legal infrastructure, has generated an exponential increase in WEEE. In this scenario, the precepts of the circular economy emerge as a solution to this global problem.

Estimating the generation of waste electrical and electronic equipment in organizations: The case of a Brazilian federal agency

The generation of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) has become a globally serious problem. Its adequate management has great importance for governments and organizations alike. Despite the available literature on models for estimating WEEE generation, such analysis and forecasting are scarce in the context of big organizations. The objective of this research is to estimate WEEE generation in organizations using the Market Supply model applied to a Brazilian federal agency. The agency's Asset Control System was the data source. These records allow organizations to effectively manage their WEEE, influencing the quality of generation estimate. A statistical analysis was carried to calculate the lifespan of the equipment in the system, observing a reduction in the lifespan of the most modern items. The model allows for estimating WEEE generation for the coming years in organizations, whilst providing lifespan profiles, meaning the probabilistic obsolescence rate of appliances. The results obtained, including the statistical analyses and the used methodology represent a valuable resource to organizations as a means to inform their decision-making process regarding the management of WEEE. • This research estimates WEEE generation in a public organization. • Organizations must have reliable asset controls to estimate WEEE generation. • Over the years, there has been a reduction in the EEE lifespan. • Other organizations can use the proposed method. • Data for EEE lifespan profiles is an important contribution of this research.

Evaluation of the environmental impact of end-of-life refrigerators in Colombia by material flow analysis

The management of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) represents one of the main environmental challenges on a global scale, due to the rapid growth of this type of waste and the risk it poses to both human health and the environment. Decision makers depend on reliable estimates of the generation of WEEE and the quantification of its environmental impact. However, limited data regarding the amount of equipment in use, annual sales, and the lifespan of electrical and electronic equipment pose important limitations to this assessment. In response to this challenge, this paper develops a combined dynamic material flow analysis and life cycle assessment approach to estimate the volume of end-of-life refrigerators in Colombia and measure their environmental impact. First, the dynamic MFA model is developed to calculate the number of end-of-life refrigerators between 1935 and 2050. Then, the environmental impact is estimated using the CO2 emissions generated in each of the pathways of final disposal at the end of the refrigerators’ useful life. The results highlight the importance of the formal refrigerator recycling system in Colombia, since this achieves a saving of approximately three million tonnes of CO2 emissions during the period of evaluation. They also show that delivering refrigerators to informal recyclers or throwing them into open-air dumps or bodies of water generates a considerable environmental impact in comparison. Additionally, these alternative scenarios imply the loss of more than two hundred thousand tonnes of recyclable material.

Assessing WEEE sustainability potential with a hybrid customer-centric forecasting framework

Along the line of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) recovery, customers are the ultimate decision-makers to determine the destinies of the end-of-life (EoL) electronic products. However, inadequacies exist and those are WEEE collection and generation predictions considering uncertain customers’ behavior and deepening discussion of the influence discrepancies of customers’ behavior between an advanced and a fledging recovery system. To bridge these research gaps, this paper aims to propose a customer-centric approach to forecasting the WEEE collection and generation amounts in Taiwan (i.e., a developed recovery system) and Vietnam (i.e., an developing recovery system), respectively, and analysing the influence disparities from these two societies. First, the combination of grey relational analysis (GRA) and principal component analysis (PCA) is employed to deal with factors reflecting customers’ behavior. Second, the forecast model, the grey neural network (NN) optimized by the particle swarm optimization (PSO) and genetic algorithm (GA), is developed to estimate the collection and generation amounts of waste home appliances during 2021-2030 in Taiwan and Vietnam. The collection amount in Taiwan is predicted to increase 2-fold until 2030 and the generation amount in Vietnam increases 6-fold. Moreover, different types of waste home appliances show distinct growth trends. The framework shows the capability to cope with nonlinear and uncertain characteristics and realize high accuracy. Based on the predictions, this paper quantifies the potential sustainability improvement given that realization of a well-established recovery system and a high recycling rate. The total revenue from recovery is estimated to reach 300 million in Taiwan by 2030, and 1.2 billion in Vietnam. Additionally, by 2030 the CO2e emissions in Taiwan are expected to reduce 0.7 million tons and in Vietnam will be reduction of 3.5 million tons. Socially, around 400-500 job vacancies can be created in Taiwan and more than 7000 jobs created in Vietnam in 2030 to achieve effective WEEE collection. The result facilitates the decision-making of the involved industries and regulators for better WEEE management and infrastructure investment. Besides, to have the collection trend in an advanced system (e.g., Taiwan) as a reference, it brightens the way to build and improve a formal collection system in a developing country or region (e.g., Vietnam).

Economic analysis of waste electrical and electronic equipment management: a study involving recycling cooperatives in Brazil

An opportunity to reduce the costs of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) collection operation is to include WEEE in the already existing selective collection flows (inflows that present idleness). In this context, this paper aims to ascertain whether it is attractive for recycling cooperatives in a determined Brazilian municipality to include a selective collection of WEEE in their operating systems. This research uses a method structured in eight steps, involving WEEE generation, waste treatment, transport and distribution processes, besides the economic analysis steps. We conclude that WEEE inclusion is economically attractive when recycling cooperative receives support from scrap dealers and the government. Two points can be highlighted as barriers to the referred cooperatives operation: the distance between cooperatives and the recycling industry is generally long; and large generators and recycling industries do not establish agreements directly with cooperatives (because these cooperatives do not offer large volumes). This study shows that recycling factories are far from the municipality and estimates that the amount of recyclable materials collected by each cooperative is low. Thus, we suggest as public policies to establish incentives for recycling factories to settle in the municipality and to encourage the formation of cooperative associations. These cooperatives can jointly sell recyclable materials to become medium-sized suppliers. This study also estimates the amount of WEEE generated in the municipality. This estimate was important for the study because there is a lack of studies that estimate WEEE generation at the municipal level mainly in developing countries.

Electronic Waste Generation Prediction in Bandung City, Indonesia

Abstract Nowadays waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) generation is increasing due to the increase in the number of users and the development of electronic products. In Indonesia, there are no specific regulations about WEEE even though it is identified as hazardous and toxic waste. This study aims to predict the WEEE generation from the most used and replaced electronic products by citizens of Bandung City. The data is collected by surveying 400 families in Bandung City. Based on the survey results, there are three types of electronic products that are most used and replaced by citizens of Bandung City, which are mobile phones, laptops and televisions. The Delay Model is modified by replacing the lifespan variable with end-of-life to project the mobile phones, laptops and televisions waste generation in Bandung City. The purpose of this modification is to adjust the pattern of electronic products used in developing countries. The projection results state that Bandung City will generate 0.61 tons/day of mobile phones, 8.66 tons/day of laptops and 3.16 tons/day of televisions at the end of 2020. Based on the results of the projection, WEEE management and recycling is important which can reduce WEEE disposal and increase the economic value of WEEE.

Estimation of the metal flow of WEEE in Vietnam considering lifespan transition

During recent decades, rapid urbanization, an increase in population, and a change in lifestyle have generated a significant amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). To develop sustainable and efficient WEEE management policies, particularly in developing countries such as Vietnam, it is of paramount importance to forecast the amount of WEEE generation expected in the future. In the input-output approach as one of the WEEE estimation models, the determination of EEE lifespan is a major concern because it can be dynamic with time and vary with socioeconomic situations. Therefore, three scenarios were considered on the basis of the association of lifespan with gross domestic product per capita. By considering the lifespan transition, this study estimated the potential amount of WEEE, particularly large home appliances including refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, and televisions generated in Vietnam and the relative volume of obsolete metals contained in the WEEE during the period 2015–2050. For this, it employed a population balance model, logistic function, and Weibull distribution. It was found that the estimated weight of WEEE discarded in Vietnam during 2050 is mitigated 50% under the case where the lifespan transition is considered, compared to the case where the lifespan transition is not considered. By considering the relationship between lifespan and GDP per capita in estimating potential WEEE, this study to some extent covered the uncertainties related to the lifespan and can consequently contribute to the enhancement of e-waste estimation.

WEEE management in a circular economy perspective: an overview

<p>The circular economy approach represents a strategy to optimize product lifecycles, thus improving the sustainability of consumption patterns. In the European Union a recent legislative proposal has addressed this concept by promoting waste prevention and re-use as well as extensive recovery of materials. Such approach is particularly interesting for the management of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), that is regarded as an urban stock of different metals, and in particular of both precious metals and rare earth elements. The recovery of metals is the main focus of WEEE management strategies and, more recently, it has been receiving a great deal of attention, especially due to the continuously increasing production of this waste stream. However, great room for improvements can still be recognised to ensure the overall sustainability of WEEE management. The present work discusses both the current needs and the main challenges regarding WEEE management in a circular economy perspective. To this end, WEEE generation trend and composition is provided and the legislative framework for its handling is overviewed, in order to point out future perspectives to develop a more sustainable management approach of this waste.</p>

Evaluación de estrategias para la gestión integral de residuos de aparatos eléctricos y electrónicos

Este artículo presenta un modelo para la evaluación de estrategias en la gestión de Residuos de Aparatos Eléctricos y Electrónicos (RAEE). Estos residuos representan un riesgo para la salud pública y para el medio ambiente, por los compuestos de tipo peligroso que los constituyen y el aumento de su generación. En Colombia existe desde 2013 la ley 1672 lineamientos para la adopción de una política que mejore la gestión de los RAEE. Esta Ley propone objetivos gestión pública, de los cuales en este artículo se evaluaron tres de ellos (Reducción en la generación, incentivo al aprovechamiento, promover la participación integrada). Para esta evaluación, se construyó un modelo utilizando la metodología de Dinámica de Sistemas, la cual permitió establecer la estructura del sistema socio-ambiental de generación y manejo de los RAEE. Así mismo, fueron definidos dos escenarios de evaluación, el primero es el estado inicial o natural que corresponde al sistema sin ninguna estrategia y el segundo es el sistema con la implementación de las estrategias, las cuales se dividieron en dos grupos. Uno es Estrategias de economía circular, educación ambiental y fomento de empleo, y el otro grupo contiene las estrategias de responsabilidad extendida del productor, estímulos de la ciudadanía y tarifa de recolección. Las simulaciones del modelo y comparaciones los escenarios, mostraron que el primer grupo de estrategias disminuyeron la tasa de generación de RAEE. De igual manera, permitieron evaluar segundo grupo de estrategias sobre la tasa de disposición. De igual manera El modelo propuesto para la gestión de Residuos de Aparatos Eléctricos y Electrónicos es útil, para la evaluación de estrategias de gestión de residuos en distintos escenarios.

Watch more, waste more? A stock-driven dynamic material flow analysis of metals and plastics in TV sets in China

Abstract The growing generation of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) in developing countries has attracted increasing attention due to its potential health and environmental impacts and high recycling potentials. For example, along with the rapid economic development, China has been experiencing a sharp increase in the production and use of TV sets and a quick transition from old fashion cathode ray tube (CRT) ones to flat panel display (FPT) ones. Understanding such dynamics would be important for predicting future WEEE generation. In this article, we developed a dynamic (from 1992 to 2040), bottom-up (TV sets by module by material), and stock-driven (using future possession as a driver) material flow analysis model to investigate the amount of metals and plastics embodied in obsolete TV sets in the future. We found that the total generation of obsolete TV sets in China will reach 142 million units by 2040, in which FPD TV sets contribute more after they started to dominate the market after 2009. These growing obsolete TV sets would mean potentially large amount of embodied materials that can be recycled. While most of the embodied precious metals (e.g., gold, silver, and palladium), common metals (e.g., iron, aluminum, zinc, and tin), toxic metals (e.g., mercury, barium, and antimony), and plastics will increase in future, copper and nickel show a first decrease then increase trend, and lead will be gradually phased out in obsolete TV sets. Our results could help inform waste management and recycling strategies and relevant decision makers (e.g., governmental agencies, manufactures, and recyclers) in the TV sets sector in China. Such a stock-driven and bottom-up approach can also be used for other e-waste issues and other countries.

Generation of domestic waste electrical and electronic equipment on Fernando de Noronha Island: qualitative and quantitative aspects.

The accelerated growth trajectory of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is a matter of concern for governments worldwide. In developing countries, the problem is more complex because municipal waste management is still a challenge for municipalities. Fernando de Noronha Island, an environmentally protected area, has a transfer station for solid waste before it is sent to the final destination abroad, which is different waste management model to most urban areas. In order to check the specifics of management of WEEE, this study aimed to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate the generation of this type of waste on the main island of Fernando de Noronha, taking into consideration aspects related to consumption habits and handling of waste. During the in situ research, a questionnaire was applied to a sample of 83 households. The results provide a picture of the generation of WEEE for a period of 1year, when a production of 1.3 tons of WEEE was estimated. Relationships between education level and monthly income and between education level and number of plasma/LCD TVs and washing machines were confirmed. Another important result is that only two socioeconomic variables (monthly income and education level) are related to two recycling behavior variables. In addition, the population and government treat WEEE as ordinary waste, ignoring its contaminant potential. Despite the existence of relevant legislation concerning the treatment and disposal of WEEE, additional efforts will be required by the government in order to properly manage this type of waste on the island.

The Link between e-Waste and GDP—New Insights from Data from the Pan-European Region

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is difficult to sustainably manage. One key issue is the challenge of planning for WEEE flows as current and future quantities of waste are difficult to predict. To address this, WEEE generation and gross domestic product (GDP) data from 50 countries of the pan-European region were assessed. A high economic elasticity was identified, indicating that WEEE and GDP are closely interlinked. More detailed analyses revealed that GDP at purchasing power parity (GDP PPP) is a more meaningful measure when looking at WEEE flows, as a linear dependency between WEEE generation and GDP PPP was identified. This dependency applies to the whole region, regardless of the economic developmental stage of individual countries. In the pan-European region, an increase of 1000 international $ GDP PPP means an additional 0.5 kg WEEE is generated that requires management.

Solving the waste electrical and electronic equipment problem: socio-economic assessment on sustainable e-waste management in South Eastern Nigeria

Nigeria still considers waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) problem as more of socio-economic benefits rather than long-term human and environmental impacts. The study assessed the socio-economic factors affecting the trend of WEEE generation and handling in South Eastern Nigeria. The research concept identified key strategic aspects relative to socio-economic assessment of WEEE management. It used investigative approach through questionnaire administration. Twenty local government areas were purposively selected from five mutually exclusive strata. Data from 201 respondents were analysed using multiple linear regression and descriptive statistics. Results revealed that monetary provisions and public participation does not have significant relationship with WEEE generation and collection. The study revealed that the factors determined as affecting the trend of WEEE generation and collection cut across cheaper pricing of WEEE, availability of WEEE, quality/superiority of E.o.L EEE to newer ones, durability of device, low income consumers and the accessibility of end-users to WEEE.

WEEE recycling in Zhejiang Province, China: generation, treatment, and public awareness

A recent challenge faced by China is to cope with the huge amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) being generated all over the country. With increased pressure of environmental protection and resource conservation, laws and regulations based on extended producer responsibility (EPR) principles have been enacted by the government to promote and support for developing formal WEEE recycling enterprises. While the WEEE management system is an extensive reverse logistics system involving consumers, collectors, dismantlers, recyclers, and even EEE producers and remanufacturers, any problem in every entity may hinder the effective operation of the whole system.This paper aims to demonstrate current status of WEEE treatment and to give suggestions for improving WEEE reutilization in China, as well as provide references for countries with similar experiences as China in WEEE recycling. The actual WEEE generation, collection and recycling situation along with public awareness on WEEE treatment are investigated in Zhejiang Province, China. The survey results show that although there is consensus in the hazards of WEEE among residents, a few of them can distinguish between formal (legal) channels and informal (illegal) ones to deal with WEEE and a considerable part of populations even choose informal collection channels. Furthermore, we present a model of WEEE reverse logistics system including private trader, second-hand store, retailer adopting “Old for New” activity, classified recovery station, informal recycling enterprise, formal recycling enterprise, etc., to observe practical operation of all the entities and their inter-relations in detail. We summarize some recommendations for the government, enterprises and consumers to promote WEEE treatment more efficiently in China.

Out with the old, out with the new – The effect of transitions in TVs and monitors technology on consumption and WEEE generation in Sweden 1996–2014

The recycling of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) is important due to its content of valuable and hazardous compounds. This study investigates the case of the recent technology change within television sets (TVs) and monitors, its impact on the generation of WEEE, and the implications for the recycling industry. In particular, material flow analysis for the time series of 1996–2014 for TVs and monitors by type of technology (CRT, Plasma and LCD) in physical units is combined with empirical data on product lifespans. The number of consumed TVs and monitors has grown exponentially. As a result, despite a 3-fold reduction in the weight of the products, the weight of the corresponding WEEE is also growing exponentially. Out with the old, out with the new – a peak in WEEE from both CRT and flat-screen displays is expected during 2014–2020, due to the simultaneous obsolesce of the last wave of CRT products and the short-lived flat-screen products that substituted the CRTs. The lifespans of LCD and LED TVs were found to be three times shorter than of the CRT TVs, with many TVs discarded while still functional. This is the consequence of two events – replacement of the CRT TVs in combination with lifestyle purchases of TVs, i.e. the premature replacement of flat-screen displays with new sets with extra-large screens and/or new features. The throughput of TVs and monitors consumed has been estimated annually from 2014 until 2040, by quantity and type of device, as well as by component and material type. The annual economic value of the corresponding secondary materials, by material type, has also been estimated. The point in time when the final disposal of CRT products is likely to take place has been identified and should be noted by the recycling industry. Among the important contributions of this study to the accounting and predicting of amounts and types of WEEE are the lifespan distributions, size and weight distributions, and material composition for TVs and monitors of different technology. Directions for method application in other countries are given.

Printed circuit board recycling: Physical processing and copper extraction by selective leaching

Global generation of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is about 40 million tons per year. Constant increase in WEEE generation added to international legislations has improved the development of processes for materials recovery and sustainability of electrical and electronic industry. This paper describes a new hydrometallurgical route (leaching process) to recycle printed circuit boards (PCBs) from printers to recover copper. Methodology included PCBs characterization and a combined route of physical and hydrometallurgical processing. Magnetic separation, acid digestion and chemical analysis by ICP-OES were performed. On leaching process were used two stages: the first one in a sulfuric media and the second in an oxidant media. The results showed that the PCBs composition was 74.6wt.% of non-magnetic material and 25.4wt.% of magnetic one. The metallic fraction corresponded to 44.0wt.%, the polymeric to 28.5wt.% and the ceramic to 27.5wt.%. The main metal was copper and its initial content was 32.5wt.%. On sulfuric leaching 90wt.% of Al, 40wt.% of Zn and 8.6wt.% of Sn were extracted, whereas on oxidant leaching tests the extraction percentage of Cu was 100wt.%, of Zn 60wt.% and of Al 10wt.%. At the end of the hydrometallurgical processing was obtained 100% of copper extraction and the recovery factor was 98.46%, which corresponds to a 32kg of Cu in 100kg of PCB.