Legal categories

In terms of collection, three broad categories of electrical equipment (large, small and lamps) are considered, but Decree-Law No. 152-D/2017 of the 11th of December defines six categories, according to the characteristics they have in common, and which are the basis for the operational sorting that takes place after collection.

Category 1
Temperature control equipment
Category 2
Screens, monitors and equipment
Category 3
Lamps
Category 4
Large equipment
Category 5
Small equipment
Category 6
Small computer and telecommunications equipment
Classification tree
Category Equipment
1 - Temperature control equipment Refrigerators, Freezers, Refrigerated vending machines, Air conditioning equipment, Dehumidifying equipment, Heat pumps, Oil heaters, Other temperature control equipment using fluids other than water for this purpose
2 - Screens, monitors and equipment Screens, Television sets, Photo frames, LCD, Monitors, Laptops, Notebooks
3 - Lamps Standard fluorescent lamps, Compact fluorescent lamps, Fluorescent lamps, High-intensity discharge lamps, including High-pressure sodium lamps and Metal-halide lamps, Low-pressure sodium lamps, LED lamps
4 - Large equipment Washing machines, Clothes dryers, Dishwashers, Stoves, Electric ovens, Electric hobs, Light fittings, Equipment for reproducing sounds or images, Musical equipment (excluding organ pipes installed in churches), Equipment used in knitting and weaving, Macrocomputers (mainframes), Large printers, Large copiers, Large slot machines, Large medical devices, Large monitoring and control instruments, Large automatic dispensers for goods and money, Photovoltaic panels
5 - Small equipment Vacuum cleaners, Carpet cleaners, Sewing appliances, Light fittings, Microwave ovens, Ventilation equipment, Irons, Toasters, Electric knives, Electric coffee makers, Watches and Clocks, Electric shavers, Scales, Hair clippers and other body care appliances, Pocket calculators, Radio sets, Video cameras, Video recorders, Hi-fi equipment, Musical instruments, Equipment for reproducing sounds or images, Electric and electronic toys, Sports equipment, Computers for cycling, diving, running, rowing and other sports, Smoke detectors, Heating regulators, Thermostats
6 - Small computer and telecommunications equipment Mobile phones, GPS, Pocket calculators, Routers, Personal computers, Printers, Telephones, Printing consumables

Composition of electrical equipment

The composition of electrical equipment includes over 69 elements from the periodic table and many of these materials, such as copper, are at risk of becoming depleted due to high demand and extraction for the manufacture of new products.

A mobile phone contains more than 40 elements
27 Co Cobalt

It is a transition metal used in alloys, cables and batteries.

3 Li Lithium

It is an alkaline metal used mainly in the manufacture of glass, ceramics and batteries.

50 Sn Estanho

It is a representative metal used in glass, alloys and as a welding material.

6 C Carbon

It is a non-metal, which is transformed to generate plastics, fuels and coal.

13 Al Aluminum

It is a representative metal with diverse applications, such as aluminum alloys, tools and structural parts for means of transport.

29 Cu Copper

It is a transition metal used to produce electrically conductive materials such as wires and cables and metal alloys.

79 Au Gold

It is a transition metal used in electrical equipment due to its high electrical conductivity and resistance to oxidation.

47 Ag Silver

It is a transition metal, used in various applications such as jewelry making, in electrical equipment as a conductor and in minting coins.

TV
29 Cu Copper

It is a transition metal used to produce electrically conductive materials such as wires and cables and metal alloys.

79 Au Gold

It is a transition metal used in electrical equipment due to its high electrical conductivity and resistance to oxidation.

78 Pt Platinium

It is a transition metal used as a catalyst in chemical reactions.

26 Fe Iron

It is a transition metal used in the manufacture of steel.

Hazardous materials

Electrical equipment also contains several toxic elements such as mercury or cadmium, for example in lamps and computers, which can have devastating effects on health and the environment.

Mercury is a harmful and bio-accumulative element that can cause damage to the digestive system and kidneys, as well as neurological problems.

Cadmium is highly carcinogenic and affects the kidneys, lungs, liver and bones.

The CFCs present in refrigeration equipment, if released into the atmosphere, have harmful and irreversible effects on the ozone layer, with repercussions on global warming and climate change.

Electrical equipment in numbers

Average lifespan
10 to 15 years
150 000 tons
of electrical equipment are placed on the market each year
Market entry
240 000 tons
240 000 tons of electrical equipment are placed on the market.
This is equivalent
Dryers
928
Washing machines
58
Lamps for every 100 inhabitants
11 600
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