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Choose the route in order: reuse, parts recovery, recycling, then scrap
Disposal is not one fixed process. A robot may be suitable for resale as a working asset, remanufacturing, recovery of serviceable parts, or material recycling. Compare these routes before authorizing scrap work: whole-unit reuse may preserve more functional value, while recycling can recover materials from equipment that is no longer suitable for use.
- Assess the asset. Record its make, model, serial number, operating hours, condition, application history, controller and peripherals, and current location.
- Request a reuse assessment. Contact the OEM and qualified resellers about buyback, trade-in, resale, or remanufacturing eligibility.
- Plan parts and material recovery. If the whole robot is unsuitable, ask what functional parts and materials can be recovered and where the remainder will go.
- Use scrap or destruction only after evaluating recovery. Have qualified personnel handle decommissioning and confirm applicable transport, safety, and waste requirements for the installation’s jurisdiction.
Compare the disposal options
| Route | Best initial fit | Potential value or recovery | Questions to resolve |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resale or OEM buyback | A functioning, repairable, or sought-after robot, potentially with peripherals | Possible proceeds and continued use; value depends on the specific asset | Eligibility, inspection, price, collection and rigging, included controller or peripherals, warranty, and destination |
| Remanufacturing or parts recovery | A robot that can be restored, or one with serviceable components | Extends equipment or part life; unsuitable parts may still enter recycling | Inspection scope, traceability, parts disposition, warranty, and handling of unrecoverable items |
| Material recycling | A whole robot not suitable for resale, with recoverable components or materials remaining | Material recovery and documented downstream handling | Accepted materials, permits, battery and electronics handling, downstream facilities, and records or certificates |
| Destruction or scrap | Reuse and material recovery have been evaluated or are unavailable | Removes the asset; recovery depends on dismantling and material streams | Qualified dismantler, energy isolation and site procedures, local waste rules, transport, and final disposition records |
The practical comparison is between the functional or economic value preserved by reuse and parts recovery, and the assurance that remaining components and waste are handled safely and lawfully. Logistics, timeline, and documentation matter too. The available service descriptions do not establish comparable vendor prices, a universal recycling yield, or one destruction specification.
Prepare the robot for a resale or buyback assessment
A clear asset record helps a prospective buyer decide whether it can accept and price the equipment. ABB’s buyback inquiry, for example, asks for serial numbers, operating hours, applications, location, and whether peripherals are included; the company says photographs and additional information help determine a price. ABB describes its process as pricing, contract or purchase order, then collection arranged by ABB. These are details of ABB’s described process, not requirements or promises for other manufacturers or buyers: ABB robot buyback.
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- Gather nameplate and controller details, including model and serial number.
- Report operating hours, current condition, application history, and known faults.
- List included peripherals and accessories, and photograph the robot and its condition.
- State the installation location and any known access, rigging, or transport constraints.
Ask each prospective buyer about eligibility, software and controller compatibility, inspection scope, any warranty on a resold unit, who is responsible for pickup and rigging, export or transport constraints, and the fate of equipment it rejects. The available service descriptions do not establish universal eligibility, a guaranteed resale value, or standard pricing. Request an asset-specific offer and written terms.
When resale is not practical, ask about remanufacturing and parts
Buyback and remanufacturing can lead to different outcomes, so ask for the intended disposition rather than assuming a returned unit will be resold whole. ABB says its buyback can lead to refurbishment, resale, or recycling. KUKA describes buyback, trade-in, direct sales of certified used robots, and resale of a customer’s robot to third parties with inspection and start-up. KUKA also says robots or controllers unsuitable for upgrading may be dismantled, with functional parts cleaned, tested, and sold as used spare parts: KUKA circular services.
For a remanufacturing or parts route, establish what will be inspected, how reusable parts are identified and traced, whether a warranty applies to any resold equipment or parts, and what happens to components that cannot be reused. Service availability and acceptance terms must be confirmed with the provider for the specific asset and location.
Recycle components with a documented downstream route
A robot that cannot be reused may still contain materials and components suitable for recovery. ABB reports that 60–80% of a robot can be reused and that the remainder is sent to certified recycling partners; that is an ABB company-reported figure, with no publication year stated on the cited page, and should not be treated as a yield for every robot, recycler, or installation: ABB circularity services.
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Materials depend on the equipment. An ABB manual for a specific Omnivance Collaborative Surface Finishing Cell lists steel, anodized aluminum, plastics, rubber, and copper. That cell-specific list is not a complete bill of materials for all industrial robots. Ask the recycler to identify accepted streams and downstream destinations, and to explain how it will handle batteries, electronics, lubricants, coatings, or other components actually present in the system.
- Get written acceptance criteria for the robot and any included controllers or peripherals.
- Ask which components are reused, recycled, or otherwise treated, and where they go next.
- Check what permits apply to the provider and the relevant waste streams.
- Agree on the records or certificates the provider will supply and what those documents cover.
For provider screening, the US EPA advises considering required permits and environmental compliance history, as well as material screening, residuals management, tracking, and recycling certificates. Its guidance also suggests checking site and ownership history, housekeeping, financial soundness, and pollution-liability or closure provisions: US EPA guidance on sustainable electronics management. A certificate is useful documentation, but do not assume it alone establishes that every legal duty has been met; confirm acceptance, permits, streams, and records with the provider and relevant authorities.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Scrap or destroy only with qualified handling and local requirements in view
There is no single destruction method established for industrial robots. Do not assume cutting, crushing, shredding, or another particular method is required or suitable for every unit. The right approach depends on construction, hazards, waste classification, and local rules.
An ABB operation and maintenance manual for its Omnivance Collaborative Surface Finishing Cell says decommissioning and dismantling should be handled only by qualified people, directs material separation and disposal to national and regional law, and advises notifying the manufacturer with nameplate data before scrapping that machine. This is guidance for the specified equipment, not a universal procedure for every robot: ABB Omnivance cell operation and maintenance manual.
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Before work begins, coordinate with the site’s qualified personnel on decommissioning, energy isolation, and site procedures. Confirm the waste classification and handling requirements for the actual components and the place where the robot is installed; seek local environmental or compliance advice if classification is uncertain.
Check the rules for the installation’s jurisdiction
Waste rules are not universal. The US EPA says hazardous-waste generators are responsible for applicable federal requirements and should check with their state agency because state requirements may be more stringent: US EPA hazardous-waste generator summary.
If the system contains used lithium batteries, the EPA says businesses should manage them carefully. Its guidance describes federal universal-waste handling and notes that state requirements can differ: US EPA guidance on used lithium-ion batteries. These EPA sources address the United States; operators elsewhere need to check the rules that apply in their own jurisdiction.
ABB also reports that refurbishing versus producing a new robot results in 75% less CO2, and that it has taken back around 250 robots per year and remanufactured over 12,000 robots globally. The company does not state a publication year for these figures, and separate ABB materials use different time periods for the remanufacturing count, so they should not be combined into a precise reporting interval or generalized to other providers: ABB circularity services and ABB remanufacturing services.
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