Mittepurustavad

Mittepurustavad is a term used in environmental design and waste-management discourse to describe strategies and technologies that avoid or minimize crushing and fragmentation of materials during processing, with the aim of preserving material value for reuse or recycling. The name derives from components resembling Estonian roots mitte ('not') and purustavad ('they crush'), yielding a suggested meaning "non-crushers." The concept has appeared in multidisciplinary discussions since the early 2020s, in academic articles, policy briefs, and industry reports dealing with circular economy and urban mining.

Core principles include design for disassembly, selective sorting over bulk crushing, modular components, and processes that minimize the mixing of materials. Methods emphasize non-destructive sorting, gentle handling, and reversible connections to enable later recovery of materials. Applications are discussed across sectors such as construction and demolition waste, electronics recovery, and product-life extension programs.

Proponents argue that Mittepurustavad can improve material yields and reduce environmental impact, while critics highlight ambiguity in terminology and the need for standardized protocols and economic feasibility assessments. The term remains subject to ongoing debate and development, with researchers exploring measurement metrics, case studies, and integration into regulatory frameworks. See also: Circular economy, Design for disassembly, Material recovery.