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.
| Metal | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Aluminium (Al) | 45-55% |
| Copper (Cu) | 20-30% |
| Brass (Cu-Zn Alloy) | 5-10% |
| Zinc (Zn) | 3-7% |
| Lead (Pb) | 2-5% |
| Tin (Sn) | 1-3% |
Beyond definitions
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How to read this table
- Percentages are composition of the non-ferrous fraction after ferrous removal — not as a percentage of total e-waste input weight.
- Lead is a hazardous metal — it requires separate authorised handling and cannot be sold to general non-ferrous traders.
- This table has the same composition as the Mechanical Recycling Non-Ferrous Metals Output table — it provides the same data in a simpler two-column format for quick reference.
About this table
After shredding and ferrous metal removal by magnetic separation, a mechanical e-waste recycling plant produces a non-ferrous metal mixture. This table gives the typical composition of that mixture — the relative proportions of the six metals present. This composition data is the basis for calculating expected non-ferrous output volumes from a given feedstock intake and for understanding which metal buyer relationships to prioritise.
Aluminium dominates at 45–55% — it is the most abundant non-ferrous metal in e-waste by volume because aluminium is widely used for housings, heat sinks, structural frames, and reflector trays across nearly all appliance categories. Despite being the largest fraction by volume, aluminium sells at a lower price per kilogram than copper, which typically reverses the revenue ranking. Copper at 20–30% is the highest-value component of the non-ferrous mixture — it commands premium pricing relative to aluminium at secondary metal market rates and represents a large share of the total non-ferrous stream revenue.
Brass (copper-zinc alloy) at 5–10% comes from connectors, terminals, and fasteners. Brass has a higher price per kilogram than aluminium. Zinc at 3–7% comes from die-cast components. Lead at 2–5% is the most regulated fraction — it requires handling under the Hazardous Waste Management Rules, specialist storage, and dispatch only to authorised smelters. Tin at 1–3% comes mainly from PCB solder. The non-ferrous mixture as a whole is sold to non-ferrous metal traders or smelters. Plants with eddy-current separators and density tables can produce higher-purity single-metal fractions rather than a mixed lot — single-metal fractions always command higher prices than the mixed lot.
Key insights
- Aluminium and copper together constitute 65–85% of the non-ferrous metal mixture — the performance of the eddy-current separator in separating these two metals from each other is the most commercially critical separation step in the non-ferrous stream.
- Lead at 2–5% is small by volume but creates a regulatory handling requirement — it must be separately stored and dispatched to authorised smelters, adding a compliance management step for every non-ferrous dispatch.
- The non-ferrous mixture composition shown here applies to mixed feedstock e-waste — feedstock-specific plants (e.g. a plant processing predominantly air conditioners) will have different compositions, with higher copper from the AC refrigerant coils.
- Converting the mixed non-ferrous lot into single-metal fractions using eddy-current and density separation improves price realisation — the premium for single-metal aluminium over mixed non-ferrous lot typically ranges from 10–20% at secondary market prices.
Methodology & sources
Composition percentages are based on typical mixed e-waste mechanical recycling output data as referenced in course materials. Actual values depend on feedstock type — IT and telecom equipment produces higher copper fractions than household appliance streams. The composition shown here is for a mixed, broadly representative e-waste feedstock and should be treated as a planning estimate.
Related data tables
Aluminium Content by E-Waste Feedstock
Aluminium content percentages for five e-waste feedstock types — medical and lab equipment (15–30%), gas analysers (15–20%), fluorescent lamp luminaires, laptops, and welding tools (all 10–15%) — for yield planning in aluminium-focused e-waste operations.
Copper Content by E-Waste Feedstock
Copper content percentages for five e-waste feedstock types — from electrical kettles (42%) and thermostats (27%) at the high end to BTS/UPS/telecom equipment, air conditioners, and electric fans (all 5–10%) — for yield planning in copper-focused e-waste operations.
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 — 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.