The
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) are organizing a virtual workshop on
"E-waste in Latin America: From Current Challenges to Future Solutions" on
17 October 2025 from 16h00 to 18h00 CEST.Every year, millions of tonnes of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) reach the end of their life, making e-waste one of the fastest growing waste streams worldwide. In 2022 alone, the world produced 62 million tonnes of e-waste, with less than a quarter properly collected and recycled. To commemorate the
International E-waste Day (14 October), this workshop will highlight Latin America’s progress and future pathways to manage e-waste sustainably and harness the opportunities of a circular economy that turns end-of-life equipment into valuable resources.
As part of the
Project for Electronic Waste in Latin America (PREAL), two reports have been developed to support countries in strengthening their e-waste systems:
- Management of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in Latin America: Current Situation and Perspectives:
This report provides an overview of the latest regional data and analysis, including results from 13 participating countries.
- Guidelines for Implementing National Systems for Integrated Management of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in Latin American Countries:
This report offers practical recommendations for governments and stakeholders to build effective national e-waste management systems.
International Standards are at the core of these efforts, providing common methods to measure progress, compare results, and guide effective solutions. Together with supportive policies, training and raising awareness, and the engagement of all stakeholders across the value chain, they help countries strengthen e-waste management systems and move towards a circular economy adapted to the realities of Latin America.
These actions also contribute directly to the ITU-led Green Digital Action (GDA) agenda, which brings the global digital community together to reduce the environmental footprint of ICTs and accelerate climate and circular solutions.”
This objectives of the workshop will be to:
- Launch two regional reports on sustainable e-waste management in Latin America.
- Share the findings and key recommendations, with a particular focus on the results of the PREAL project across 13 countries.
- Provide practical guidance for policymakers, regulators, and industry on developing and implementing e-waste management systems.
- Facilitate a high-level discussion on emerging challenges and opportunities for e-waste management, including critical raw materials, digital product passports (DPP), and evolving forms of extended producer responsibility (EPR).
- Foster international collaboration to strengthen the transition toward circular economy practices in the ICT sector.
Target audience:
This workshop is open to all and participation is free of charge. The workshop will bring together policymakers and regulators from Latin America and beyond, representatives from industry, producer responsibility organizations and recycling companies, as well as international organizations, development partners, and civil society. Academia and research institutions working on e-waste, circular economy, and sustainability will also be actively engaged.
Register here
Remote Participation: Once registered, you will receive a unique zoom connection link. Please connect to the remote platform using this link.
Draft Programme
16:00 - 16:10
| Opening Remarks
|
| 16:10 - 16:55 | Insights and Guidance for Strengthening E-waste Management in Latin America
This session will present two studies developed under the PREAL project to support countries in improving their e-waste systems. The reports provide the latest regional data and analysis from 13 Latin American countries, along with practical guidance for governments and stakeholders on implementing effective national frameworks for integrated e-waste management.
|
| 16:55 - 17:55 | Panel Discussion on Looking Ahead: Innovation and Sustainability in E-waste Management
This panel discussion will explore what the future holds for e-waste management in Latin America and beyond. International experts will share perspectives on emerging priorities such as digital product passports (DPP), recovery of critical raw materials, extended producer responsibility (EPR), second-hand equipment markets, and other innovations. The dialogue will provide forward-looking insights on opportunities and challenges to advance sustainable and circular e-waste systems.
|
| 17:55 - 18:00 | Closing Remarks
|