Alba Group subsidiary opens new e-waste recycling facility

BERLIN (Scrap Monster): Alba Electronics Recycling GmbH has announced opening of a new electronics recycling facility in Eppingen, Germany. The new plant implements latest technology that allows safe and environment-friendly recycling of flat screen displays containing mercury. The fully automated system is believed to possess a capacity to process up to 60 flat screen displays per hour. Moreover, the entire process is being carried out without damaging the mercury lamps inside.

According to Alba Group, the facility currently treats only flat panel computer monitors. It expects to begin processing larger television screens later during this year. It hopes to explore new equipment and recycling procedures to diversify its operations. Meantime, the electronics industry has recently switched over to mercury-free LED flat panel displays. However, the recent stream of obsolete electronics is dominated by flat panel displays that use mercury containing components.

Other accessories such as cable wires and stands are removed before the flat panel displays are shipped to the facility. The devices thus received are separated into non-mercury and mercury-containing components. The mercury-containing components are further broken down. The materials are either recycled or disposed of as hazardous waste. The filtering of exhaust air from the dismantling facility with activated charcoal thwarts the threats of pollution.

Alba Electronics Recycling GmbH is a subsidiary of Alba Group. With its two brands – ALBA and Interseroh – ALBA Group operates within Germany, Europe, the U.S. and Asia. ALBA Group is one of the leading recycling and environmental services companies as well as raw material providers worldwide.