• Parts which need to be removed on disposal (e.g. batteries, mercury contacts and LCD displays shall be identifiable and removal must be easy

• Avoidance of mixing hazardous substances with the rest of the product

• Use joining methods that ease disassembly:
  
  
  • The easiest disassembly method is breaking of the parts. Incorporating "weak" spots in the construction can facilitate this.
    
    
  • Use as few screws as possible. Join by "clicking" whenever possible.
    
    
  • Use the same kind of screws to avoid tool change.
    
    
  • Avoid joining that needs special tools.
    
    
  • Make sure that screws can be accessed from one side in order to avoid turning the equipment.
    
    
• Make drawings or instructions concerning disassembly accessible e.g. via internet. The drawings must contain information concerning parts with hazardous substances and parts with high recycling potential.
  
  
• Parts with high recycling potential must be easy to remove (e.g. cooling plates, coils and transformers). This can be done by placing them along the edge of the board to ease breakage.
  

• Reduces time consumption on disposal and reduces the costs for disposal
  
  
• An advantage in case of service or upgrading
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Demand according to EU-directive: Waste from Electric and Electronic Equipment.
  

• Avoid mixing of different types of materials, e.g.
  
  
  • Pressfits of non-compatible metals in iron or aluminium
  • Chemical surface plating of metals (galvanizing, nickel plating or chromium plating)
  • Painting or coating of plastics (because of EMC)
  • Metal inserts in plastics
  • Joining of non-compatible plastics
    
    

· Avoid moulding-in components

• Certain combinations of metals will reduce the recyclability
  
  
• It is an environmental advantage to avoid chemical surface plating
  
  
• Recycling of thermoplastics is reduced, if the plastics are contaminated
  

• Plastics weighing >25 grams should be identified with ISO 11469 plastic code to ease recycling identification

• Flame retardants contained in plastic parts should be identified

• Makes correct sorting possible
  
  
• Requirement in several eco-labelling schemes
  

• Requirement according to EU and some national regulations

• Easy access to parts, which can be re-used and removed without damage.
  
  
• Incorporation of timer in parts, which are relevant to replace during the lifetime of the product, or direct re-use.
  

• Less need for new parts
  
  
  
• Special interest for maintenance and take-back.