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Amazing way Chinese recycle millions of cellphones every year

blogs.nokia.com

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Re: Amazing way Chinese recycle millions of cellphones every year

#11

Post by latch »

dualogy wrote: post #10
latch wrote: post #7

Garbage sorters in HK isn't a sight I've 100% gotten used to. It is extremely common (somewhere around 1 every 2KM you walk - and those are just the ones you catch actually at a garbage). They are mostly after cardboard from what I've seen - or maybe that's just what they find the most of. As a general rule, they are all old and don't look particularly healthy. But they are hard working. I feel equal measures of sham…

I've seen them too... on the one hand maybe they don't look as "healthy" as a Calvin Klein model. On the other hand, especially when watching the older ones -- they sure have kept their mobility and muscles in a working condition throughout the years doing what they do and they make me think of the majority of old folks back home whose bodies are often deteriorating and falling apart from NOT getting any physical exe…

I've had the same thoughts. It's impressive to spend time in Asia and see how active the elderly are. However, I'm not sure this type of "be active or don't eat" activity is socially progressive (which is the part that shames me).

I also disagree that they are "mobile" and "muscled". Most have obvious joint/bone problems. I'm really not sure that this type/level of physical labor is any better than the exact opposite of no physical labor.

What is inspiring though is that these people will do it because they have to. No shame, no pride.

Re: Amazing way Chinese recycle millions of cellphones every year

#12

Post by unwind »

sliverstorm wrote: post #3

This is fantastic. Disassembled all the way down to the capacitors... If these parts are resold and reused, I don't think anyone could hope for better, short of a way to decompose and reuse PCB, or at the very least harvest the copper.

Tbe only thing that worries me if that if these components are sold as new, that would be a bit unpleasant. Sure it's recycling, but it's dishonest. Of course, I'm not saying that the pictured establishments in particular should be suspected of any such deviousness (I don't know them at all).

Also, I really don't want to sound prejudiced, I've just read about fake components coming out of China sometimes, and it seems the step to fake "new" components isn't very far-fetched.

Re: Amazing way Chinese recycle millions of cellphones every year

#15

Post by shareme »

m0wfo wrote: post #13

Sounds like Nokia palming off its RoHS obligations to a cottage economy which luckily for them seems to be thriving. You couldn't do this in Europe or America.

You are wrong..

Both co-founders of Apple were part-time employed in such adventures in the USA..Steve Jobs was in-fact a junk yard IC chip seller.

Even now there are still re-used chip sellers in the USA who do this in that they sort through used chips to find those to sell that are in demand.

Re: Amazing way Chinese recycle millions of cellphones every year

#17

Post by Tichy »

dualogy wrote: post #10
latch wrote: post #7

Garbage sorters in HK isn't a sight I've 100% gotten used to. It is extremely common (somewhere around 1 every 2KM you walk - and those are just the ones you catch actually at a garbage). They are mostly after cardboard from what I've seen - or maybe that's just what they find the most of. As a general rule, they are all old and don't look particularly healthy. But they are hard working. I feel equal measures of sham…

I've seen them too... on the one hand maybe they don't look as "healthy" as a Calvin Klein model. On the other hand, especially when watching the older ones -- they sure have kept their mobility and muscles in a working condition throughout the years doing what they do and they make me think of the majority of old folks back home whose bodies are often deteriorating and falling apart from NOT getting any physical exe…

"especially when watching the older ones"

A relevant question would be how old they really are, though. Maybe they only look old.

Re: Amazing way Chinese recycle millions of cellphones every year

#18

Post by sliverstorm »

unwind wrote: post #12
sliverstorm wrote: post #3

This is fantastic. Disassembled all the way down to the capacitors... If these parts are resold and reused, I don't think anyone could hope for better, short of a way to decompose and reuse PCB, or at the very least harvest the copper.

Tbe only thing that worries me if that if these components are sold as new, that would be a bit unpleasant. Sure it's recycling, but it's dishonest. Of course, I'm not saying that the pictured establishments in particular should be suspected of any such deviousness (I don't know them at all). Also, I really don't want to sound prejudiced, I've just read about fake components coming out of China sometimes, and it seem…

Well, you get what you pay for. Buy reputable brands through reputable dealers and pay a few extra cents for high quality parts, and you'll probably be ok.

Re: Amazing way Chinese recycle millions of cellphones every year

#20

Post by colanderman »

sliverstorm wrote: post #18
unwind wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tbe only thing that worries me if that if these components are sold as new, that would be a bit unpleasant. Sure it's recycling, but it's dishonest. Of course, I'm not saying that the pictured establishments in particular should be suspected of any such deviousness (I don't know them at all). Also, I really don't want to sound prejudiced, I've just read about fake components coming out of China sometimes, and it seem…

Well, you get what you pay for. Buy reputable brands through reputable dealers and pay a few extra cents for high quality parts, and you'll probably be ok.

"Probably" is the key word. Counterfieters do an awful good job at making themselves and the product look reputable, and China could use some work on trademark enforcement. cf. the many stories of "empty" big-name ICs from Chinese distributors.
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