Page 100 - Implementation of ITU-T international standards for sustainable management of waste electrical and electronic equipment: The path to a circular economy in Costa Rica

Implementation of ITU-T international standards for sustainable management of waste
electrical and electronic equipment: The path to a circular economy in Costa Rica

topics such as spillage handling, fire hazards and emergency evacuation are only addressed by
a minority. Training is not provided on handling and transporting hazardous substances and
waste, a fundamental topic related to their activities.

National regulations require establishing plans on emergency, occupational health and
safety, and waste management. In addition, these plans must include provisions for capacity
building on these topics. However, there is a mismatch between compliance with the regulatory
requirements to develop plans and their actual implementation. This represents an opportunity
to improve the mechanism used by the Ministry of Health to verify regulatory compliance,
in order not to merely bring about documentary compliance but to ensure that managers
actually implement the plan. SME-type waste managers also face the challenge of having
basic knowledge of management systems and their implementation, as required by national
regulations.

4.3.2.4 Managers’ perception of the challenges to implement Recommendation ITU-T
L.1032 and INTE G8:2013 standard

Some managers consider that having environmental management systems already in
place and, in some cases, INTE-ISO 14001:2015 certifications, will help them to implement
Recommendation ITU-T L.1032. Standard INTE G8:2013 is mandatory for micro and small
enterprises and INTE-ISO 14001:2015 for medium and large enterprises. None of the SME-type
waste managers participants declared to be INTE G8:2013 certified.

Costs and investments associated with environmental management systems and certifications
are some of the aspects that managers perceive as more difficult to achieve in order to implement
the Recommendation and regulated standards. Another obstacle is the investment level in
equipment needed to comply with environmental and safety measures. Managers also find it
difficult to ingrain in workers a culture related to environmental management systems.

An additional challenge, also associated
with costs, is to count on financial
resources to hire personnel to implement
and maintain the management system.
The challenge is greater if the aim is to
certify the system. Financial resources
and support to train staff on management
systems are also identified as challenges.

Managers make it clear the need to receive
enough information to obtain permits
related to INTE G8:2013 implementation.

Apart from the issues indicated above on the implementation of Recommendation ITU-T L.1032
and INTE G8:2013 standard, participants pointed out some of the challenges they face when
performing WEEE management activities:
– Need for a more active participation of actors in the WEEE recovery and recycling value
chain. For this purpose, they suggest:

• Involving importers and distributors in the improvement of management processes
and reverse logistics.

74