How Old Electronics Were Recycled in Past Decades

Historical Context of Electronics Recycling

In past decades, electronics recycling occurred in a rudimentary and poorly regulated manner. The rapid increase in the amount of this waste, especially in the 1980s and 1990s, already indicated the need for proper procedures.

Methodologies Used in Early Recycling

Before specific regulations, manual sorting was the most common method. Components such as heavy metals (cadmium, lead, and mercury) and valuable elements like copper and aluminum were separated in an artisanal way for reuse. This practice, however, posed environmental and health risks due to improper handling.

Absence of Regulatory Standards and Their Impacts

Until the enactment of the National Solid Waste Policy (Law No. 12,305/2010, available at planalto.gov.br), there were no specific guidelines for the recycling of electronic equipment. This caused irregular dispersion of such waste, contributing to environmental contamination and exposure of workers in informal settings.

Disposal and Collection Processes

In the absence of integrated systems, disposal and collection were predominantly carried out by informal waste pickers or metal material resellers. For responsible disposal, electronic waste collection today must be performed by certified services, as indicated in the electronics scheduling.

Secure Data Destruction in Equipment

Historically, the disposal of media with stored data, such as hard drives, did not meet high security standards, posing leakage risks. Nowadays, effective sanitization of these devices is essential and can be performed according to technical guidelines available at HD sanitization.

Final Considerations

Old practices of electronics recycling, despite being pioneering, were limited in terms of safety and environmental impact. The implementation of technical standards and specific legislation, as provided in the National Solid Waste Policy and other regulations of the National Information System on Solid Waste Management (SINIR, sinir.gov.br), has promoted significant advances in this field, making the processes safer, more technological, and sustainable.