Page 23 - 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

Introduction

Global production systems are based on a linear economy that can be summarized as the
extraction of raw materials, the production of consumer goods that are generally only used once,
and their disposal once they have reached their end-of-life without the waste being of any value.

This model is based on the continuous and disproportionate exploitation of the natural
environment and its resources. The extraction and processing of natural resources cause half
of the global emissions and more than 90 per cent of biodiversity loss. It has now reached a point
where the speed of resource consumption is greater than the planet’s ability to generate them
(United Nations Climate Change, 2021). In turn, production and consumption are associated
with waste generation and pollution, which is linked closely to resource depletion and climate
change.

The Paris Agreement is a historic agreement that aims for all countries to combat climate change
and adapt to its effects, which requires a global economic and social transformation. The recently
signed Glasgow Climate Pact reinforces climate action to preserve the Paris Agreement's goal of
limiting global warming to 1.5°C. The Agreement calls for the transformation of production and
consumption patterns, which is essential for a shift towards the circular economy. The circular
economy closes the loop between the different life cycles through design and corporate actions
or practices to enable more efficient recycling and re-using of raw materials, goods and waste.
The concept of the circular economy distinguishes between technical and biological cycles; it
is a continuous and positive development cycle. A circular economy preserves and enhances
natural capital, optimizes resource yields and minimizes system risks by managing finite stocks
and renewable flows while reducing waste streams (UIT, 2020).
At the same time, circular economy models need to be adopted to achieve the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) such as SDG 6, SDG 7, SDG 9 and SDG 12 Specifically, SDG
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12: Sustainable Consumption and Production, is closely related as it aims to do more and
better with less, while seeking to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation,
increase resource efficiency, and promote sustainable lifestyles (United Nations Environment
Programme, 2021).

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), through the Connect 2030 Agenda for
global telecommunication/ICT development, sets goals and targets aimed at achieving
the digital transformation necessary to meet the SDGs. Goal 3, Sustainability, aims for the
telecommunication/ICT sector to manage the risks, challenges and opportunities resulting
from its rapid growth, while working to minimize related negative impacts. The generation of
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), its proper management, and the circularity
model, relate to this goal.

Recent studies in Latin America and the Caribbean indicate that the adoption of the circular
economy could generate a net increase of 4.8 million jobs in the region (Albaladejo, Mirazo, &
Franco, 2021). The same source indicates that based on a recent study, most countries in the
LAC region have taken one or more key actions to promote the circular economy. According to

1 SDG6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
SDG7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all
SDG9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
SDG11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable
SDG12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

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