Waste Matters

When building keyboards, we also have to take care about what happens when parts reach end of life. Electronic waste needs careful handling so valuable materials can be recovered and harmful stuff stays out of landfills. That is why the European Union and we as a company at Kamo take waste management seriously.

We participate in the EU WEEE program, which means our products are registered and routed into the official recycling system. It is a practical way to do our part and keep the community’s workbench a little cleaner. Responsibility is part of good build etiquette.

On a side note, if you did not know yet and are looking for clear guidance on where to bring old electronics and how to sort them: This resource is excellent, especially for customers in Germany: https://e-schrott-entsorgen.org/index.html. It breaks down categories and helps you find nearby drop-off points.

For keyboards, here is what usually goes where: remove any Li-Po or coin-cell batteries and take them to a battery collection point. Treat electronic parts like PCBs, controllers, OLED displays, rotary encoders, USB cables, receivers and chargers as e-waste and bring them to an e-waste drop-off. Our cases are based on environment-friendly PLA, which many municipalities do not recycle with standard plastics. Follow local rules, and where PLA is not collected separately it typically belongs in residual waste. Keycaps and switches are mixed materials and are best reused, resold or donated. If disposal is required, use residual waste according to local guidance. Screws and small hardware can often be reused, or placed in metal recycling if your facility accepts small items.