Page 34 - 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

Figure 9 – Situation of WEEE in 2020

2.4 Opportunities identified for the implementation of
Recommendations ITU-T L.1031 and ITU-T L.1032

Previous sections have described the national WEEE management system in Costa Rica and
some of its achievements. Since 2010 the country has developed a robust legal framework
that promotes the recovery of waste, including WEEE. It has evolved according to the country’s
needs and global trends and requirements. WEEE management framework tools available make
it a solid and dynamic system. It contemplates key principles for WEEE sustainable management
such as the EPR and national plans and strategies to carry out proper waste management.

Despite progress on the issue, the country must face significant challenges to continue moving
towards WEEE sustainable management and the adoption of circular economy models.
One of such challenges is to develop a WEEE inventory divided into specific categories,
identifying the role of actors and material flows between them. Inventory allows countries
to define the context for developing and assessing their WEEE management system using
key performance indicators and take-back targets in various categories. It allows establishing
responsibility and scope within the national management systems.

The Government of Costa Rica decided to implement Recommendation ITU-T L.1031, which
establishes the steps to develop a comprehensive inventory, one of the three phases needed
to achieve the e-waste reduction target set according to the Connect 2030 Agenda. In the case
of Costa Rica, the information will help to supplement the inventory developed in 2019 by the
UN for the Global E-waste Monitor – 2020: Quantities, flows, and the circular economy potential,
and to establish material flows and balances between the value chain actors for the selected
categories. Based on the information gathered from this exercise, the country will be able to
develop actions jointly with the stakeholders to improve SINAGIRE and establish measures to
move forward together with the WEEE sector into circular economy models. The information
available will allow for the proposal of a country indicator on WEEE within the framework of SDG
12.5: “By 2030, reduce waste generation significantly through prevention, reduction, recycling,
and take-back activities.”

As indicated in previous sections, Executive Decree 41052 provides physical-sanitary
requirements and conditions with which waste-recovery centres must comply. Ministerial
Directive DM-CB-8016-2016 set up recommendations, criteria and good practices for an
integrated and WEEE sustainable management. National legislation requires compliance with

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