Automated sorting of used electronic components

E waste management at component level is gaining attention of researchers nowadays. One of the ways of E waste management at component level is to promote reuse. Reuse of electronic components helps to reduce e waste. Two types of components are used to build electronic circuit viz., through hole and SMD components. In College laboratories through hole components are used for experimentation. After the experimentation is over these components are dropped in a waste box and most of the times they are thrown away. This paper describes the automated system for sorting of used through hole electronic components in the College laboratory. Proposed automated sorting system is based on the principle of Machine Vision. Machine vision system consists of hardware and software. Hardware system has been designed using conveyor belt and sorting bins. SURF algorithm has been implemented in MATLAB for sorting of used electronic components. 65% accuracy has been achieved in identification and sorting of the used components.