Chuckling, we have a guy here that has managed to use the 1/2 inch wide break-off strips to build tape dispensers, solder dispensers and other tools for his work bench.

I have use them as board spacers to lift power resistors above the circuit board, created tools for measuring sails and tools to open iPods when they need repair.

Phil

-----Original Message-----
From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Stadem, Richard D.
Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2015 9:49 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [TN] Recycling Board/Panel Edge Material

Unfortunately, many of them are not completely blank. If there are any copper features at all, such as fiducials, copper text or other symbols, they won't let them go into the landfills. It is not cost-feasible to attempt to segregate those which have metal (and thus often contain HASL) and those that don't.
Besidesawhich, they don't allow us to landfill fiberglass either. Not in Minnesota anyway. It's easier to send it to China.
Now that we are all thinking about this, when you consider the amount of waste these panel edges generate, perhaps it is advisable to eliminate them from our designs. I am not so sure they cannot be designed out. If not, surely the fiberglass strips can be recycled and re-used? I am certainly no expert in those matters.

-----Original Message-----
From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Peter G. Houwen
Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2015 8:36 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [TN] Recycling Board/Panel Edge Material

While we're talking cost/benefit, I'm curious about the amount of energy and other resources that go into recycling these boards.  If they aren't toxic, maybe it IS greener to landfill blank PCBs.

______________________________________________________________________
This email has been scanned by the Symantec Email Security.cloud service.
For more information please contact helpdesk at x2960 or [log in to unmask] ______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________
This email has been scanned by the Symantec Email Security.cloud service.
For more information please contact helpdesk at x2960 or [log in to unmask] 
______________________________________________________________________