Below you will find an overview of a few benefits and challenges to using automated robots in the sorting and disassembly of e-waste.
1️⃣ Resource recovery
The use of automated robots to sort and disassemble e-waste can increase material recovery rates. Yet, the disassembly of e-waste is “characterized by many unknowns and uncertainties”. Manufacturers – who have “parts lists, functional descriptions and assembly instructions” – are not necessarily involved in the recycling of the e-waste created through their own products. Therefore, the quality and availability of data is a key challenge when it comes to using automated robots to dismantle e-waste. Beyond this, the condition of the e-waste being sorted or disassembled can present a challenge. In practice, “bolts may be rusted, screw heads may be worn, components may be deformed or damaged, or they may be missing entirely”. Moreover, “glued components or other joint connections that are not designed for automated and non-destructive disassembly” may be present.
2️⃣ Economy
Automated robots can “enhance productivity and efficiency by performing tasks at a speed and accuracy unmatched by humans”. This can save costs and improve profitability by increasing the output and reducing the production time. As automated robots can work “without the need for breaks or rest”, it is possible to run operations continuously and therewith maximize production. That said, a key challenge to the implementation of automated robots is the initial cost for acquiring and implementing these new systems. Generally speaking, “[t]he upfront investment required for purchasing the robots, integrating them into existing infrastructure, and providing training can be substantial”. Overall, “long-term cost savings and productivity gains” may, however, make up for this.
3️⃣ Workers
Automated robots can take on repetitive tasks that may be boring or physically demanding for workers to do. This can allow workers “to focus on [the] more complex [and] creative aspects of their jobs”. Moreover, automated robots can carry out tasks that may pose risks to – or be hazardous for – workers. By using robots in place of workers, it is possible to create safer working environments and to reduce the risk of accidents or injuries in the e-waste sector. Yet, the use of automated robots can also replace workers currently doing (manual or repetitive) tasks. This means certain jobs may become obsolete. The “potential job displacement and the need for upskilling the existing workforce” is something that civil society at large should therefore take note of and prepare for. In this context, it is worth mentioning that automated robots still have a given “inability to handle complex decision-making tasks that require human judgment and adaptability”. In practice, this also means that “in situations that involve ambiguity or unexpected changes”, human oversight and intervention is likely needed.
Read more about automated robots here:
- https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/robotics-and-ai/articles/10.3389/frobt.2024.1303279/full
- https://impakter.com/how-automated-robots-are-transforming-manufacturing-processes/
- https://publica.fraunhofer.de/bitstreams/6e7b0aae-1473-4cca-a7c9-2300fe159b4b/download
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212827118303743