Shredded circuit boards

Shredded circuit boards. Circuit boards are metal boards that hold computer chips, thermostats, batteries, and other electronic components. Circuit boards can be found in computers, televisions, radios, and other electronic equipment. When this equipment is thrown away, these boards can be removed and recycled. Whole circuit boards meet the definition of scrap metal, and are therefore exempt from hazardous waste regulation when recycled. On the other hand, some recycling processes involve shredding the board. Such shredded boards do not meet the exclusion for recycled scrap metal. In order to facilitate the recycling of such materials, U.S. EPA excluded recycled shredded circuit boards from the definition of solid waste, provided that they are stored in containers sufficient to prevent release to the environment, and are free of potentially dangerous components, such as mercury switches, mercury relays, nickel-cadmium batteries, and lithium batteries. 

Circuit boards receive a special exemption from federal hazardous waste rules. Whole used circuit boards meet the definition of spent materials but also meet the definition of scrap metal. EPA exempts recycled whole used circuit boards from hazardous waste regulation. EPA also excludes shredded circuit boards from the definition of solid waste if they are containerized before recovery. Shredded circuit boards cannot contain mercury switches, mercury relays, nickel cadmium batteries, or lithium batteries. 

---