If you process mixed volumes of electrical and electronic waste, a WEEE recycling plant efficiently recovers the ferrous and non-ferrous metals from household appliances, IT equipment and consumer devices. The material is shredded with a metal shredder or a hammer mill, then separated magnetically and by eddy current, delivering high-purity iron, aluminium and copper, plus plastic.
A well-designed WEEE recycling plant is customized to the type of your waste, with correctly sized shredding machines and separation stages that extract each metal individually. The flow is continuous, with dust extraction, and produces clean fractions, directly salable. See the full range of recycling equipment and where each one fits in the line.
Key Advantages for WEEE Material Recovery
• Ferrous and non-ferrous recovery, a WEEE recycling plant extracts the magnetic iron, then the aluminium and copper with the eddy current separator.
• Robust shredding, the metal shredder or the hammer mill reduce the volume and free the materials for separation.
• High-purity fractions, the recovered metals are clean and directly salable to smelters and steel mills.
• Customization by type, the configuration adapts to large household appliances, IT equipment or consumer devices.
• Plastic separation, density and air separation recovers the plastic fraction for regranulation.
• Dust extraction system, dust capture and filtration keep a clean and compliant working environment.
• Compliant with WEEE legislation, designed to meet the requirements of the European directive on electronic waste.
• Scalable capacity, the plant grows from a starter line up to an industrial unit, stage by stage.
Technical Specifications, WEEE Recycling Plant
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Process type | Mechanical WEEE recycling: shredding and separation |
| Feedstock | Household appliances, IT equipment, consumer devices |
| Shredding | Metal shredder, hammer mill or vertical shredder |
| Ferrous separation | Magnetic separators |
| Non-ferrous separation | Eddy current separators (aluminium, copper) |
| Fine separation | Density / air separation |
| Recovered products | Iron, aluminium, copper, plastic |
| Components | CE marked where applicable |
| Capacity | Configurable to the project |
Applications and Industries for Electronic Waste Recycling
A WEEE recycling plant serves authorized recyclers and operators who receive large flows of household appliances and electronic equipment. This waste contains iron, aluminium, copper and plastic in significant quantities, secondary raw materials with steady demand on the market. For an operator, the clean recovery of these metals turns bulky, hazardous waste into stable revenue streams.
The management of this waste is regulated in the European Union by Directive 2012/19/EU on WEEE, which requires proper collection and treatment. For integration into a complete line, see also the complete solutions by industry.
The materials recovered by a WEEE recycling plant go directly into industry: iron to steel mills, aluminium and copper to smelters, and the recovered plastic into regranulation. The electronic boards extracted before shredding can be directed toward a dedicated precious metals recovery flow. For an operator, the ability to deliver clean fractions opens direct contracts with processing industry, at better prices.
The volume of WEEE grows year after year, and Romania, as a member state of the European Union, has clear collection and recycling targets. A correctly sized WEEE recycling plant positions you exactly at the meeting point between a legal obligation and an economic opportunity, with support from extended producer responsibility schemes, which finance the treatment of this waste. This financing ensures a steady flow of material toward authorized treatment units and a predictable demand for the installed capacity.
In addition, recovering metals from WEEE reduces dependence on mining and on the import of raw materials, an argument that is increasingly important for authorities and for industrial customers. A plant that delivers clean iron, aluminium and copper contributes directly to the circular economy and can access contracts with manufacturers who commit to recycled-material targets in their products.
Customization by type is a major practical advantage: a line set up for large household appliances differs from one for IT equipment, and the correct sizing of the shredding and separation makes the difference between clean, well-paid fractions and a mixed material that is hard to sell. A WEEE recycling plant adapted to your flow maximizes both the purity and the value of the recovered fractions, which is directly reflected in the price obtained from buyers.
Compatible Materials
A WEEE recycling plant processes a wide range of electronic waste, after an initial sorting and the extraction of hazardous components. Refrigeration equipment and cathode-ray-tube devices are treated on dedicated flows, and batteries and electronic boards are extracted before the general shredding. The better the input sorting, the cleaner the recovered fractions.
| Accepted material | Notes |
|---|---|
| Large household appliances | Washing machines, ovens, without refrigerant |
| IT and telecom equipment | Computers, servers, peripherals |
| Consumer devices | Small electronics and household appliances |
| Hazardous components | Batteries and boards extracted on dedicated flows |
How It Works
The flow on a WEEE recycling plant is continuous, automated and mechanical, from the device to clean fractions:
1. The waste is sorted, and the hazardous components (batteries, boards) are extracted before shredding.
2. The material is shredded in a metal shredder, a hammer mill or a vertical shredder.
3. A magnetic separator extracts the ferrous fraction from the shredded flow.
4. The eddy current separator detaches the aluminium and copper from the rest of the materials.
5. Density and air separation splits the plastic and the residual fractions.
6. The fractions are collected separately, and the dust extraction system captures the fine powders.
Each stage is sized to work with the next, for fractions as pure as possible. A continuously monitored WEEE recycling plant keeps a constant quality and quickly brings a new operator to stable results, a real advantage in plants with staff turnover. The control system signals deviations and allows planned maintenance without long production stops.
Frequently Asked Questions
What materials does a WEEE recycling plant recover?
It recovers high-purity iron, aluminium, copper and plastic from household appliances and electronic equipment. The electronic boards extracted beforehand can be directed toward a dedicated flow for precious metals. Each fraction is sorted separately and directly salable. In practice, a WEEE recycling plant turns bulky waste into several secondary raw materials.
How are the hazardous components handled?
Before the general shredding, the waste is sorted, and the hazardous components, the batteries, the refrigerants and the electronic boards, are extracted and directed to dedicated flows. Refrigeration equipment and cathode-ray-tube devices are treated separately. This pre-treatment protects the environment and raises the purity of the fractions recovered later.
What capacity and configuration are available?
The plant is sized according to the volume and the type of the waste processed, from a starter line up to an industrial unit. The shredding and separation stages are chosen together, so a WEEE recycling plant fits exactly your flow and the fractions you want to monetize.
Is the delivered equipment new?
Yes. We deliver new, unused equipment, made to order, not reconditioned units. The build uses components from established suppliers, CE marked where applicable, and every plant goes through a full inspection before shipping. You receive the technical documentation and operating manuals in your language, for a commissioning without surprises.
What makes URSTAG a premium brand?
European design, top-tier components and experience. Every machine is designed by our engineering teams in Europe and built from components by industry leaders such as Siemens, Schneider Electric, ABB, WEG, SEW-Eurodrive, NORD Drivesystems and Bonfiglioli. The result is reliable, energy-efficient and durable equipment, backed by over 15 years of experience and by delivery, installation, training and service included.
How long does installation and commissioning take?
Transport, commissioning and operator training are included and carried out by a local team, in your language. Before shipping, the plant goes through a full inspection, so your unit becomes operational quickly, with no hidden installation costs.
Can I later add a flow for electronic boards?
Yes. A WEEE recycling plant is modular: you start with the recovery of base metals from household appliances and equipment, then add a dedicated line for boards, with fine shredding and electrostatic separation, for copper and precious metals. The stages are sized together, without redesigning the existing line.
Why URSTAG?
URSTAG is a premium brand of recycling equipment, with over 15 years of experience. You don't just get a machine, you get a solution engineered by specialists, built from top-tier components and backed by a team that supports you from design through commissioning.
• European engineering, every machine and every complete line is designed by our engineering teams in Europe, with a focus on reliability, safety and energy efficiency.
• Premium components, we build on motors and automation from industry leaders: Siemens, Schneider Electric, ABB, WEG, SEW-Eurodrive, NORD Drivesystems and Bonfiglioli.
• Over 15 years of experience, we know how materials and machines behave in real-world operation, and we configure each solution for your flow and volume.
• New equipment, configured for you, we supply new units, made to order for your application, with complete technical documentation.
• Delivery, installation and training included, we handle transport, commissioning and operator training, with support throughout the equipment's life.
As a premium brand, URSTAG relies on European engineering, top-tier components and experience. You choose a partner that supports your production long term, with equipment built to run reliably in demanding industrial environments.
