Discarded electronic devices and components are known as electronic waste, or ‘e-waste’. This includes a wide range of products such as computers, smartphones, tablets, televisions, and household appliances. Due to rapid device turnover, technological advancements, and consumer demand for new products, e-waste is a growing global issue.
LCDs are one of the fastest-growing e-waste streams on the planet, with over 320 million units sold annually and an average lifespan of only 4-5 years. In compliance with the EU WEEE Directive, it is a legal requirement to depollute and recycle these waste LCDs. However, LCD recycling poses significant challenges due to the presence of hazardous substances and their intricate composition, involving multiple layers of circuit boards, fluorescent tubes, liquid crystal glass panels, and other components.
Renowned scientist, founder, and CEO of Votechnik Lisa O’Donoghue originally conducted research on developing a technology to recycle Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) at the University of Limerick. The spin-out company, Votechnik has developed ALR4000, the first fully automated technology for LCD depollution and recycling, offering the only real alternative for economical high-speed processing and stringent environmental compliance.
“Transitioning from a science background to business was a new learning curve. We could see Ireland struggling with LCD recycling. Our technology now allows Ireland to process its own LCD waste locally, rather than exporting it.” -explained Lisa.
Innovating the Circular Economy Revolution
Some components and materials, such as batteries, photovoltaic cells, and other critical raw materials, require effective recycling solutions to be reintroduced into the economy. They present unique challenges, particularly in finding economical and high-speed methods to reintegrate them into the circular economy. For example, LCDs are difficult to process because of their diverse compositions.
“This feels like the fifth revolution, following the digital revolution, now focusing on the circular economy. This shift advances technology because, unlike traditional manufacturing that repeatedly makes the same product, recycling deals with diverse makes and models. This high engineering challenge introduces high-tech solutions into a traditionally low-tech environment,” explained Lisa.
The Hazardous Legacy of LCD Waste
Mercury used in LCD screens, monitors, and laptop screens requires proper disposal.
“LCD screens contain small fluorescent tubes with mercury, which is highly toxic. Although each tube has a small amount, processing large volumes of LCDs results in a significant amount of mercury that needs to be properly captured and segregated to avoid landfill contamination. Additionally, liquid crystals in LCDs pose a similar concern; if they disperse into the environment, they can accumulate over time and potentially contaminate soil, water, and the food supply in the long run, maybe in 50 or 100 years,” explained Lisa.
“The environmental benefit [of Votechnik technology] lies in capturing the hazardous substances and recovering raw materials for reuse. We are capturing all the hazardous materials safely.”-said Lisa.
The Journey of Votechnik’s Machines From ALR1000 to ALR4000
“We are just mad about our own machines.”
The evolution from the rudimentary proof of concept with the ALR1000 to the sophisticated capabilities of the ALR4000 represents a series of steps forward in the quest for sustainable and reliable LCD waste management solutions.
Image: Votechnik’s ALR4000
We began with the ALR1000, which served as an important proof-of-concept. However, it could only handle 32-inch displays and could not be readily adapted for different screen sizes. The second iteration, the ALR2000, could process sequential LCD sizes and models. Unfortunately, the ALR2000 gave inconsistent results because it relied on repeatedly picking up the LCD, leading to an increased risk of improper handling.
By using robotics, the ALR3000 was able to handle the lifting, ensuring consistent performance and eliminating variation. “We successfully deployed the initial version in the industry and then conducted a snag list to gather feedback for improvements. This led to the development of the ALR4000, which processes LCD TVs and monitors, and also handles LEDs.” concluded Lisa.
Votechnik’s Future Perspectives: Ensuring European Indium Supply through Innovation
LCDs contain a glass panel which has an indium coating on it. Indium is a crucial raw material in displays and touchscreens, while being 99% sourced from China, poses a supply risk.
“So there’s a massive drive to have a European recycled source of indium. We have an additional technology in our portfolio that is in the middle of being funded right now, which actually is to recover the indium from those glass panels that are removed from the ALR4000. We can say that within 5-10 years, we will have a fleet of infrastructure that will achieve all the targets for Europe and will enable the recyclers to make it profitable.” -Lisa explained.
Embrace Risk-Taking: Lisa’s Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Lisa reflects on the tendency, especially in academic settings, to avoid risks and prioritise perfection. She advocates for a shift towards embracing experimentation and taking calculated risks, inspired by the mantra “move fast and break things” associated with innovative companies like Google.
“I would probably say, and I’m still working on it myself, to be very honest, which is take risks and don’t play it safe… I think it’s kind of a powerful mantra to just try and flip the mindset to go out there and play a little more and just take more risks when you’re doing stuff.” -Lisa said.
Votechnik’s Partnership with Strata
Their journey to secure funding was pivotal, and meeting David from Strata provided the support that Votechnik required.
“We were EIC funded already, but we were looking at our next phase of what fund raising would fit Votechniks vision and trajectory. And the process is so time-consuming and all-encompassing that we were concerned about balancing the real time strategic objectives with the fund raising approach. And then we met David from Strata and I could see that we could actually do it with this type of support around us. Carmen, whom we met through David, enriched our journey with her expertise and insight. The support from both of them for structure, setup, and timeframes was excellent, but what I enjoyed most was how pleasant it was to work with them. They had solid knowledge of the program, provided excellent preparation advice, interview prepping, and perfect response times. I couldn’t say enough positive things,” concluded Lisa.
Article and Interview by Damla Yildirim
