PCB (PCB)

A Printed Circuit Board (PCB) is the substrate board found inside every electronic device — characterised by an insulating fibreglass-and-epoxy laminate (typically FR-4) with thin copper traces etched onto one or both surfaces that electrically interconnect mounted electronic components. PCBs are present in mobile phones, laptops, TVs, refrigerators, air conditioners, and industrial control systems, making them the most ubiquitous high-value fraction in e-waste streams worldwide. For Indian e-waste recyclers, PCBs typically represent 8–15% of e-waste mass but 40–65% of total revenue.

The economic value comes from the rich metal content. Mobile phone PCBs contain approximately 25–35% copper, 0.5–1.5% silver, 200–400 g/tonne gold, 100–300 g/tonne palladium, and trace platinum — collectively worth ₹250–450 per kg at 2024 metal prices. Computer motherboards contain 15–25% copper and 80–200 g/tonne gold, worth ₹150–280 per kg. Television PCBs contain 10–20% copper and 30–80 g/tonne gold, worth ₹80–150 per kg. A 100 TPD e-waste plant processing 8–15 TPD of PCBs generates ₹1.5–4 crore per month in metal-recovery revenue alone, before EPR certificate sales.

PCB processing involves manual de-population (removing valuable components like processors, capacitors, IC chips for refurbishment), mechanical shredding to 4–10 mm fragments, magnetic separation of ferrous content, eddy current separation of non-ferrous metals, and pyrometallurgical or hydrometallurgical extraction of precious metals from concentrate. Indian recyclers typically partner with international smelters (Boliden in Sweden, Umicore in Belgium, Aurubis in Germany) for the final pyrometallurgical step, since domestic smelter capacity for complex e-waste concentrate is limited. Environmental controls are critical — PCBs contain 3–8% brominated flame retardants that release toxic dioxins when burned, and 1–3% lead and tin solder requiring strict workplace exposure controls under Factories Act schedules. Certified PCB recycling facilities operating to R2 or e-Stewards standards command ₹40–60 per kg gate fees from corporate IT clients, on top of metal-recovery revenue.

• Substrate board with etched copper traces — present in all electronic devices.
• 8–15% of e-waste mass but 40–65% of recycler revenue from metal content.
• Mobile PCBs: 200–400 g/tonne gold worth ₹250–450/kg; computer boards ₹150–280/kg.
• Processing: manual de-population, shredding, magnetic and eddy separation, smelter export.