Mechanical Recycling — Non-Ferrous Metals Output
The six non-ferrous metal fractions recovered from the eddy-current and density separation stages of a mechanical e-waste recycling line — aluminium, copper, brass, zinc, lead, and tin — with each metal's share of the non-ferrous stream and its output size.
| Metal | Percentage | Output Size |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminium (Al) | 45-55% | 2-20 mm |
| Copper (Cu) | 20-30% | 2-20 mm |
| Brass (Cu-Zn) | 5-10% | 2-20 mm |
| Zinc (Zn) | 3-7% | 2-20 mm |
| Lead (Pb) | 2-5% | 2-20 mm |
| Tin (Sn) | 1-3% | 2-20 mm |
Beyond definitions
Planning to start a E-waste business?
Get the full business understanding — capex, regulations, machinery, vendor questions, and risk checks before you commit capital.
How to read this table
- Percentages are the composition of the non-ferrous fraction after ferrous removal — not as a percentage of total e-waste input weight.
- All six metals exit as 2–20 mm granules or flakes from the shredder and separation stages.
- Lead is a hazardous metal — its collection, storage, and dispatch require separate authorised handling under the Hazardous Waste Management Rules.
About this table
After shredding and magnetic separation remove the ferrous fraction, the non-ferrous metal stream passes through eddy-current separators and vibratory density tables to separate the remaining metals by conductivity and specific gravity. The result is a mixed non-ferrous output with six identifiable components. This table shows the composition of that stream.
Aluminium is the largest fraction at 45–55% of the non-ferrous stream. It comes predominantly from equipment housings, heat sinks, and structural frames. Aluminium exits mechanical processing as 2–20 mm granules and is sold to secondary aluminium smelters. Copper at 20–30% is the highest-value fraction by revenue contribution despite being smaller by volume than aluminium — copper's price per kilogram is consistently higher than aluminium at LME secondary market rates. Copper granules from shredded e-waste go to copper wire manufacturers or electrolytic refiners.
Brass (copper-zinc alloy) at 5–10% comes from electrical connectors, bolts, and terminal components. It is typically sold mixed with the copper fraction or sorted separately for brass ingot foundries. Zinc (3–7%) comes from die-cast components and zinc-alloy connectors. Lead (2–5%) arises from solder on circuit boards and lead-acid battery components — lead is classified as a hazardous metal and its handling, storage, and dispatch require compliance with the Hazardous Waste Management Rules. Tin (1–3%) comes primarily from solder on PCBs. Both lead and tin require segregation and handling by authorised smelters rather than general metal traders.
The mixed non-ferrous stream from a mechanical plant is typically sold as a combined lot to non-ferrous smelters or traders who sort further, unless the operator has eddy-current and density separation equipment precise enough to produce single-metal fractions from each pass.
Key insights
- Aluminium is the largest non-ferrous fraction by volume (45–55%) but copper typically contributes more revenue per kilogram of non-ferrous output — sorting them separately improves overall non-ferrous stream value.
- Lead (2–5%) is a hazardous metal — it cannot be sold to general scrap traders and must be dispatched to authorised smelters, adding a compliance step to the lead fraction handling.
- The full non-ferrous stream (Al + Cu + Brass + Zn + Pb + Sn) constitutes a significant portion of a mechanical recycling plant's total revenue — its combined value typically exceeds the ferrous stream revenue despite being smaller by weight.
- Tin (1–3%) mainly arises from solder on printed circuit boards — it is often sold mixed with the copper fraction rather than separately, as sorting tin from copper at this scale is not economically worthwhile without hydrometallurgical processing.
Methodology & sources
Non-ferrous metal composition percentages are based on typical e-waste mechanical recycling line outputs as referenced in course materials. Actual composition varies with feedstock type — IT equipment produces a higher copper fraction than household appliances. All output sizes assume standard shredder and granulator configurations; actual particle size depends on screen mesh size and granulator settings.
Related data tables
Mechanical Plant — End Products & Buyers
The five output streams sold by a mechanical e-waste recycling plant — ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals, precious and rare earth metals, plastic parts, and other recyclables — with the composition, physical form, and typical Indian buyers for each stream.
Mechanical Recycling — Ferrous Metals Output
Two ferrous metal output streams from e-waste mechanical recycling — iron alloys and steel (85–95% of the ferrous mix, sold to foundries and metal traders) and nickel-based alloys (5–15%, sold to nickel alloy manufacturers) — with typical output size and buyers.
Mechanical Recycling — Precious Metals Output
The precious and trace metals present in the fine-powder fraction from mechanical e-waste processing — gold, silver, palladium, platinum, and copper — with their percentage ranges and the requirement to route this fraction to hydrometallurgical refiners for full value recovery.
Non-Ferrous Metal Mixture Composition
The composition of the non-ferrous metal mixture recovered from e-waste mechanical processing — six metals from aluminium at 45–55% down to tin at 1–3% — used as a reference for calculating non-ferrous output yields and planning buyer relationships.