Focus Materials

CRT (cathode ray tube) glass is among the most challenging materials in the electronics recycling stream, and it is one of the materials where AK Recycling's specialization makes a critical difference. A standard CRT monitor contains four to eight pounds of lead in its glass panels—lead that was incorporated to block X-rays generated by the electron beam inside the tube. A large CRT television can contain six to eight pounds or more. When you multiply these figures across the millions of CRT devices still in use or in storage, the aggregate lead content represents an enormous environmental liability if not handled properly.

The processing challenge begins with the physical characteristics of CRT glass. It is heavy, fragile, and dangerous to break—broken CRT glass can release fine lead-containing dust that poses an inhalation hazard. CRT panels must be carefully cut or cracked to separate the lead-containing funnel glass from the panel glass, which has different lead content and processing requirements. This separation step requires specialized equipment and protective measures for workers.

Once separated, CRT glass must be processed by certified downstream facilities. The primary market for recycled CRT glass was historically new CRT manufacturing, but as CRT production has essentially ended, new markets have had to be developed. CRT glass is now processed into secondary lead, used as a raw material in new glass production (including building glass and ceramic tile), and in some cases used as a landfill cover material—though this last option is less preferable from an environmental standpoint.

AK Recycling's e-Steward certification specifically requires that we process CRT glass through certified downstream processors and that we maintain documentation of where this material goes. We do not allow CRT glass to be exported to developing countries, which is where much unscrupulous CRT processing occurs. Every pound of CRT glass we collect is processed responsibly within appropriate regulatory frameworks.

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are among the most valuable materials in the electronics recycling stream. A typical computer motherboard contains gold, silver, palladium, and copper in concentrated amounts that exceed the ore grade of many mines. The gold content of circuit boards can be 20 to 50 times higher per ton than the ore processed in gold mines. When properly recovered, circuit board precious metals represent significant economic value and reduce the need for environmentally destructive virgin metal mining.

The process of recovering precious metals from circuit boards typically begins with mechanical processing—shredding and granulating the boards to reduce them to small particles. This mechanical processing separates the metallic components from the non-metallic materials (the resin substrate and glass fiber). The metallic fraction is then sent to a smelter or precious metals refinery where the various metals are separated through pyrometallurgical (high-temperature) and hydrometallurgical (chemical leaching) processes.

The challenge with circuit board recycling is that PCBs also contain hazardous substances—brominated flame retardants in the resin substrate, lead solder, and beryllium in some components. Processing these materials requires facilities with appropriate emission controls and waste treatment capabilities. Improper processing—particularly open burning of circuit boards as practiced at informal e-waste sites—releases toxic dioxins and furans while also losing much of the precious metal value.

AK Recycling routes circuit boards through certified precious metals refiners who operate with appropriate environmental controls and can provide documentation of their processing. The recovered gold, silver, copper, and other metals are returned to the supply chain for use in new electronics, jewelry, and industrial applications—a genuine closed loop that reduces environmental impact compared to primary metal production.

Batteries represent a distinct challenge in electronics recycling for several reasons. They are ubiquitous—present in virtually every portable electronic device—they contain hazardous materials, and lithium batteries in particular present a significant fire risk if damaged or improperly handled. AK Recycling has developed specific handling protocols for different battery chemistries to manage these risks while ensuring responsible processing.

Lithium-ion and lithium polymer batteries, now found in smartphones, laptops, tablets, e-readers, and an expanding range of devices, require careful handling because they can overheat, catch fire, or explode if punctured, crushed, or short-circuited. Our intake process identifies and segregates lithium batteries, and they are stored in fireproof containers pending processing. We do not accept batteries that are visibly swollen, damaged, or leaking without special arrangements, as these pose immediate safety risks. Lithium battery recycling recovers lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and other valuable materials for use in new batteries.

Lead-acid batteries—found in vehicles, industrial equipment, large UPS systems, and emergency power systems—are one of the most successfully recycled consumer products. The recycling infrastructure for lead-acid batteries is well-established, and recycling rates for automotive lead-acid batteries exceed 95 percent in the United States. AK Recycling accepts lead-acid batteries and routes them to certified lead smelters where the lead is recovered and reused in new batteries. The plastic casings are also recycled.

Nickel-cadmium (NiCd) and nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries are found in older rechargeable devices and some power tools. Cadmium in NiCd batteries is a particularly toxic heavy metal that must be kept out of landfills. These batteries are recycled to recover cadmium, nickel, and iron. If you have questions about specific battery types, contact us at 323.581.5700 before dropping off large quantities.

Hard drive shredding is the physical destruction of a hard drive using industrial shredding equipment that reduces the drive to small fragments—typically less than one to two inches in size. The result is a drive that has been physically destroyed beyond any possibility of data recovery. This is the most absolute form of data destruction available and is the method of choice when data security requirements are highest or when drives cannot be functionally verified to have been wiped.

Shredding is necessary in several situations. When a hard drive is non-functional—perhaps the result of a failed drive, water damage, or physical trauma—software-based wiping cannot be performed because the drive cannot spin up and accept write commands. For these drives, physical destruction is the only reliable path to assured data destruction. Similarly, some organizations' security policies or compliance frameworks require physical destruction regardless of the functional status of the drive, because physical destruction eliminates any uncertainty about the completeness of data erasure.

Shredding is also commonly required for solid-state drives (SSDs), which store data differently from traditional spinning hard drives. Because SSDs distribute data across their memory chips in complex ways, software-based wiping methods that work well on traditional drives may not be completely effective on all SSDs. Physical shredding eliminates the memory chips themselves, making data recovery impossible. For highly sensitive data on SSDs, shredding is the recommended approach.

AK Recycling performs on-site and in-facility hard drive shredding. We maintain documentation of every drive shredded, including serial numbers where available, and provide certificates of destruction that document the specific shredding event. These certificates are suitable for compliance documentation under HIPAA, SOX, GLBA, CCPA, and other regulatory frameworks. More information on our full data security capabilities is available on our <Link href="/data-security">data security page</Link>.

Not every component of every electronic device can be economically or technically recycled into a new product. Certain plastics, composite materials, and low-grade materials may not have established recycling markets, or the cost of recycling them may exceed the value recovered. How a recycler handles these materials is an important indicator of their overall environmental commitment.

AK Recycling&apos;s approach to non-recyclable materials is guided by our e-Steward certification and our own environmental values. We work to minimize the volume of material that goes to disposal by maximizing the fraction that is recycled or reused. This includes continuously reviewing our downstream processes and seeking out new markets for materials that may not have been recyclable in the past. The recycling industry evolves, and materials that were once problematic—such as certain plastics—are increasingly finding responsible processing pathways.

For materials that genuinely cannot be recycled, we ensure they are disposed of in compliant, environmentally managed facilities—permitted landfills with appropriate environmental controls, not informal dumpsites. We do not dispose of materials in ways that create environmental liability or that are inconsistent with our certifications. Our e-Steward auditor reviews our disposal practices as part of the annual certification audit.

It is worth noting that the fraction of material in most electronics that truly cannot be recycled is small. Metals, glass, and many plastics can be recycled. The majority of the weight of a typical computer or television—metals, CRT glass, circuit board materials—has established recycling pathways. The challenge is ensuring those pathways are truly responsible, which is why our certification and downstream accountability practices are so important.