Data equipment

All electrical and electronic equipment that contain memory capacity, such as mobile phones, computers and digital cameras is considered data equipment.

Data devices contain many valuable and nonrenewable metals and minerals. Re-using them saves energy and reduces dependance on raw materials.

Photo: Recycling process of data equipment / Kuusakoski Oy.

In the recycling process, data equipment is crushed for the materials to be separated from each other by using different technologies. For example, color metals such as copper and aluminium are melted. They are reutilized, for instance, in vehicle and electronics industry.

Old computer screens might contain phosphorus or mercury that are both classified as harmful substances. They are separated in the recycling process and distributed to the relevant processing units for special waste.

Data equipment usually contain different types of plastic as well. The plastic parts are recycled either as material or utilized as energy.

Generally, the materials continue their journey toward East Asia where most of the electronics is produced.

Producer organisations are responsible for the secure processing the data equipment returned to the official reception points. Please consult your retailer about the possibility to return discarded data equipment into a locked data-SER container.