Design Evaluation Method for the Disassembly of Electronic Equipment

Due to their short lifecycle, personal computers are being sent to the landfill at an accelerated pace. Their disposal has a hazardous impact on the environment thus necessitating the implementation of widespread recycling efforts. Currently, in the US, computer recycling businesses exist on a profit making model and not simply for the betterment of the environment. Therefore, efforts must be made to enhance profitability of these businesses so that they make money, this in turn will ensure recycling of more computers and reduce their environmental impact. This research is focused on developing guidelines to design computers so that they are profitable to recycle. We propose a simple yet practical way of determining recycling feasibility of a particular PC design by tracking the disassembly process as a function of the monetary gain for recycling companies. The proposed method of evaluating recyclability can serve as a powerful tool in the developmental stages of a computer design.