E meter analog w plastic cover

Discarded electric meters can be classified into two main categories:
* Mechanical electric meters (analog)
* Electronic electric meters (digital)
Additionally, they can be classified based on their outer shell materials, such as:
* Without a shell
* Plastic shell
* Glass shell

The recycling of discarded electric meters typically involves the following channels:
1. Public utilities: Many power companies regularly replace old meters, including upgrades to smart meters, which generates a large number of discarded meters. These companies usually have their own recycling plans or cooperate with professional recycling companies to handle these discarded meters.
2. Waste recycling centers: Some waste recycling centers or waste treatment plants accept discarded electric meters and dismantle them to recover metals and other valuable materials. Residents or businesses can directly deliver discarded meters to these recycling centers.
3. Professional electronic waste recycling companies: These companies specialize in the recycling of electronic products, including discarded electric meters. They usually have professional equipment and qualifications for handling electronic waste and can safely dismantle meters to recover valuable materials.
4. Building demolition or renovation sites: During building demolition or renovation, a large number of electric meters are discarded, which are often of similar specifications and quality, making them suitable for recycling and processing.
5. Commercial and industrial facilities: Some commercial or industrial facilities also generate discarded electric meters during upgrades or maintenance of their power facilities. These facilities usually cooperate with waste recycling companies to ensure proper handling of these discarded materials.

Valuable materials in discarded electric meters include:
* Metals: Copper (from coils and wiring), aluminum (from mechanical meters' rotating disks), and steel (from outer shells and structural components)
* Plastics: Outer shells and internal insulating components can be made from various plastics, which can be recycled and reused.
The following images show the aluminum measuring disk of a mechanical electric meter (left) and the internal components of a mechanical electric meter, including copper and other metal parts (right):

As a miscellaneous item, electric meters need to be dismantled before becoming valuable metal scrap. The dismantling process mainly involves manual disassembly and mechanical disassembly. Manual disassembly involves removing the outer shell and separating valuable metal components and electronic components. Mechanical disassembly involves crushing the meter and then separating the shell (stainless steel, aluminum) and internal structural components, circuit boards, etc.

Discarded electric meters are typically detected through trial disassembly and classification.

Electric meters are mainly dismantled manually and are suitable for disassembly in areas with low labor costs. The dismantled materials include copper and circuit boards, which are in high demand in countries like Thailand and Malaysia, where copper prices are relatively high. Therefore, discarded electric meters are suitable for sale to dismantling factories in Thailand and Malaysia.

When trading discarded electric meters, extra attention should be paid to the consistency between the photos and actual goods, as well as the consistency between the declared location and the actual shipping location. This is because discarded electric meters have a high degree of variability, and their prices are highly dependent on factors like photos and origin.