Using the recyclability index of materials as a tool for design for disassembly

The recyclability index of materials (R) is used to determine if it is economically feasible to disassemble a product. First, a percentage of the product that is composed with materials with a high R is calculated. This gives an estimate of how much of the product can be recycled theoretically. Then, a profit-to-loss margin for recycling is calculated to determine whether it is economically feasible to recover that percentage of materials with high R previously calculated. If the margin is positive, then it is economically possible to recycle that product, and if it is negative certain actions could be taken in order to make the margin positive. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.