![[Translate to Englisch:] Mann arbeitet mit Leiterplatten in einer Werkstatt mit Regalen im Hintergrund.](/fileadmin/_processed_/f/a/csm_PM_demotronic_3ab1586625.webp)
Keeping Electronic Waste in the Loop
How a Recycler Gives Materials a Second Life
In the summer, Stannol acquired shares in the recycling company demotronic in Espelkamp, North Rhine-Westphalia. The aim: to close material cycles and promote the recycling of old electronic devices. According to the Federal Environment Agency, with a collection rate of only around 30 percent in 2023, Germany falls far short of the statutory target of 65 percent.
demotronic is one of the companies that want to change this. The recycler offers services in three key areas: the professional disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment from the B2B sector, qualified transportation and secure data destruction. The company focuses on customers from trade and industry – supplemented by public institutions such as ministries, municipal administrations and public utilities as well as institutions from the education and healthcare sectors such as schools and hospitals.
Recovery of valuable raw materials
![[Translate to Englisch:] Gabelstapler in Bewegung vor Lagerhallen.](/fileadmin/_processed_/9/c/csm_demotronic_Gabelstapler_e0f065d309.webp)
The focus is always on the recovery of materials that originate exclusively from waste electronic equipment. The resulting material streams are differentiated through upstream sorting and – depending on requirements – targeted manual dismantling.
"The main fractions include different categories of waste electrical and electronic equipment: high-quality fractions with PCB content, lower-quality plastic-heavy fractions and classic shredder pre-scrap or mixed scrap.In addition, specific device groups such as printers are managed as a separate fraction," explains Andre Gronemeier, authorized signatory at demotronic.
There is also a particular focus on the dismantling of circuit boards, from which precious metals such as gold, silver, palladium and copper are recovered. Other separate material flows – such as the cable fraction – complete the material flow portfolio.
"Overall, this structured separation forms the basis for efficient and resource-conserving recycling," emphasizes demotronic Managing Director Achim Wenzel.
EAR consulting for companies
The company also offers comprehensive EAR advice. The Stiftung Elektro-Altgeräte Register (EAR) is the German authority that registers and monitors manufacturers and distributors of electrical and consumer goods within the framework of the European WEEE Directive and is obliged to finance the recycling of waste electronic equipment. As complex obligations and questions of interpretation often arise here, demotronic provides support with expert advice and practical solutions.
A typical example from consulting practice shows how quickly violations can occur: "In one company, waste electrical and electronic equipment was stored in open outdoor containers – a clear violation of the requirements for weather-protected collection. We were able to quickly remedy the situation by providing appropriate advice and suitable alternatives such as closed roll containers or box systems," explains Andre Gronemeier.
Certifications and Qualifications
- primary treatment plant according to ElektroG – legally compliant treatment of waste electrical and electronic equipment
- specialized waste management company
- DIN EN ISO 9001 – Quality management
- ISO 14001 – Environmental management
- DIN 66399 – certified data destruction
![[Translate to Englisch:] Person arbeitet an Elektronikplatine in Lagerhalle mit Regalen.](/fileadmin/_processed_/f/a/csm_PM_demotronic_c837e9bbaf.webp)
![[Translate to Englisch:] Nahaufnahme eines abgeschnittenen Kabels mit sichtbaren Kupferdrähten, unscharfer Hintergrund.](/fileadmin/_processed_/4/0/csm_IMG_9236_b38133cf02.webp)
![[Translate to Englisch:] Serverraum mit mehreren gestapelten Computereinheiten hinter einem Gitter.](/fileadmin/_processed_/8/2/csm_IMG_9260_04538d534f.webp)
Sifting and sorting requires expertise
When processing old appliances, they are first sorted according to their value-adding components. This step is carried out exclusively by trained personnel, as sound knowledge and experience are required to correctly assess old appliances and small-particle materials and assign them to the correct fractions.
A particular focus is on the processing of printed circuit boards – the "supreme discipline" of electronics recycling. The circuit boards are collected separately, sorted into quality levels by qualified employees and then marketed to specialized smelters. There, valuable precious and non-ferrous metals such as gold, silver, palladium and copper are recovered.
In addition to the identification of printed circuit boards, the separate collection of different cable fractions plays a central role. Cables are divided into several categories according to their structure; particularly solid power cables are also peeled in a separate facility to obtain high-quality Millberry copper.
In the further process, the employees visually assess whether dismantling is economically viable. If a device contains sufficiently valuable materials, it is systematically dismantled. However, if the material value is too low, these fractions are sent directly to the shredding process.
"As a specialist company, we can accept and dispose of a wide range of materials in accordance with the relevant waste code numbers – including hazardous waste such as TFT screens, night storage heaters, refrigerators, fluorescent tubes and toner. We work with certified partners for these materials. In this way, we can provide a legally compliant and technically suitable disposal solution for almost any application," explains Achim Wenzel. "It is important to us that we take care of as much of the waste equipment as possible so that we can offer a full service."
Secure and legally compliant data destruction
![[Translate to Englisch:] Metallkisten mit dem Schriftzug "demotronic", Nahaufnahme.](/fileadmin/_processed_/3/2/csm_IMG_9169_9f2a0968e0.webp)
![[Translate to Englisch:] Festplatten werden in einer Maschine zerkleinert.](/fileadmin/_processed_/0/6/csm_demotronic_Schredder_51d0e306bf.webp)
Data destruction in accordance with DIN 66399 is subject to strict organizational and technical requirements that guarantee seamless security along the entire process chain. Achim Wenzel: "Certification is only granted if all requirements are met – from the provision of lockable collection containers and complete transport and supply chain documentation to a camera-monitored security area in which the data carriers are destroyed."
The process follows a strictly defined procedure: each container remains locked until it is destroyed, all steps are logged and then made available to the client in a traceable manner. In the case of hard disks, the individual barcode is also scanned before the data carrier enters the destruction process.
In addition, GPS-monitored transportation is used to document the location of the delivery at all times. "The core component of the standard is the defined particle sizes, which must not be reconstructable after shredding. Depending on the security level and type of material, different sieves are used; level 4 already prevents practically all reconstruction, while level 5 significantly increases the security requirements even further," summarizes Andre Gronemeier.
High flexibility, great expertise
![[Translate to Englisch:] Rollwagen mit Elektroschrott in einem Lagerhaus, Licht dringt durch das Dach.](/fileadmin/_processed_/0/2/csm_demotronic_Anlieferung_24ba23c99b.webp)
One of the key challenges is the economic evaluation of the very heterogeneous incoming goods. Fluctuating precious metal prices – for gold, for example – can have a short-term impact on whether dismantling is economically viable or whether materials go straight into the disposal process. "As we receive deliveries from around 1,800 B2B customers, each collection has to be checked individually. For this reason, we photograph the incoming goods – the images serve as the basis for fair remuneration models," explains Achim Wenzel. The spectrum ranges from non-reimbursable mixed material to high-quality raw materials, the reimbursement of which is negotiated with the customer.
Another major challenge lies in logistics. Despite advance notifications, it is often only on site that it becomes clear what quantities and qualities are actually available and how the pallet cages provided in advance are filled. Andre Gronemeier: "Excessive or uneven loading of the boxes or additional materials require flexible decisions. At the same time, we have to ensure optimum utilization of the vehicles, as we offer transport free of charge in many cases."
Recalculated daily
![[Translate to Englisch:] Ein Haufen aus Kupfer- und Metallteilen, unsortiert gestapelt.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%206960%204640'%3E%3C/svg%3E6960w)
![[Translate to Englisch:] Ein Haufen aus Kupfer- und Metallteilen, unsortiert gestapelt.](/fileadmin/_processed_/f/5/csm_IMG_9096_f635610f5c.webp)
In addition, there are extensive legal requirements, for example from the German Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG) or hazardous goods and waste legislation. Every delivery must be transported, documented and processed in accordance with the regulations, especially in the case of hazardous waste such as TFT displays or fluorescent tubes.
"Last but not least, there is a daily mixed calculation: for each collection, we check which materials incur costs, which recyclables generate revenue and whether the customer receives compensation for particularly high-value deliveries. Despite the high level of complexity, the process remains deliberately low-threshold for customers - they simply provide the material to be collected, while we take care of the evaluation, transport, documentation and professional processing," the experts emphasize.
Customer proximity as a success factor
![[Translate to Englisch:] Metallkorb mit vielen elektronischen Leiterplatten.](/fileadmin/_processed_/e/9/csm_IMG_9080_250685061d.webp)
The company is particularly proud of its close, reliable customer support and high level of service orientation, which ensures exceptionally strong customer loyalty. A structured system for regular contact with existing customers and the provision of free pallet cages have proven successful and are appreciated by customers.
The high level of qualification of the staff also plays a key role: "As many work steps – especially sorting and dismantling – require purely manual work, experienced and committed specialist staff are one of our success factors.
This combination of customer proximity, reliability and craftsmanship is a key factor in our ability to build stable, long-term customer relationships," summarizes Achim Wenzel.
The company is also regularly audited and undergoes around eight to ten audits per year by major customers – meaning that an audit takes place almost every month.
Common goals: Closing the loop, utilizing potential
![[Translate to Englisch:] Drei Männer vor einem "demotronic"-Banner.](/fileadmin/_processed_/e/4/csm_Gruppenbild_Demotronic_87e5476865.webp)
Stannol and demotronic share a similar understanding of values and an overlap of target groups - particularly in the PCB and electronics industry. "The personal level also played an important role for us: the cooperation is based on mutual trust and a harmonious "chemistry" between the two companies," emphasizes Achim Wenzel.
In addition, the positions of both companies complement each other ideally within the value chain: "While one partner is at the beginning of the material utilization process, the other ensures that valuable secondary raw materials are returned to the cycle at the end.
The high purity of modern recycling materials - today often equivalent to primary raw materials - underlines this closed cycle and makes the collaboration particularly sensible," adds Marco Dörr, Managing Director of Stannol.
Raising awareness - increasing the recycling rate
Both partners associate the cooperation with the expectation of closing the recycling loop even more closely and thus tapping into additional potential in the recovery of valuable materials. One example is the prospect of collecting tin separately in future and returning it to production without any loss of value - a step that could improve material circulation.
At the same time, the collaboration is seen as an opportunity to increase the recycling rate of waste electrical and electronic equipment in Germany - greater awareness is seen as a key lever for bringing more secondary raw materials back into the cycle. In addition, both companies expect to continue their strategic development together: "Growth, expansion of the service area and a second location in Velbert, which will serve the southern region of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Lower Rhine, are currently the focus. In the medium term, the aim is to be able to offer the efficient service model nationwide - based on cooperation at eye level and a common goal," emphasizes Marco Dörr.
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