Page 99 - 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

heavy metals and other hazardous substances that are blown back into the air by the sweeper.
It should be recalled that heavy metals and other substances present in WEEE pose a risk to
health and the environment.

It could be assumed that waste generated in dismantling and recovery processes is professionally
managed since it is the main activity of Focus Group participants. However, one of them disposes
of hazardous waste in landfills and another in municipal waste collection centres. The remaining
waste administrators do manage this type of waste with authorized waste managers. All of them
dispose of non-hazardous waste produced by their activities in sanitary or municipal waste
landfills.

4.3.2.3 Management systems, certifications, and INTE G8:2013
Managers associate the term “management system” with standards, regulations, control,
measurements, documentation, traceability, administration and organization. However, not
all of them associate the term with quality management systems, environmental management
systems, or safety systems. Words such as “separation”, “proper handling” and “collection”,
denote that they associate them with waste management systems.

In general, managers implement basic plans or programmes required by national regulations
that are necessary for their operations. There are other programmes or plans required by
INTE G8:2013 and INTE-ISO 14001:2015 standards. It should be remembered that ED 41052
Take Back Centres for Waste Recovery Regulations (Executive Decree 41052, 2018) already
requires SME-type waste managers to implement the first standard, while larger managers
should implement the second. Larger managers are certified in the areas of safety, environment,
quality, or integrated systems based on ISO standards. That is why they implement plans and
programmes not required by national legislation. However, SME-type waste managers only
follow basic plans or programmes.

The assessment of environmental risks and aspects, the definition of compliance and
environmental performance indicators, as well as documents to back their activities are all related
to this subject. Managers that already have some form of certification have implemented the
requirements entailed by INTE G8:2013 and INTE-ISO 14001:2015. The remaining managers,
basically SME-type waste managers, are at clear disadvantage when it comes of compliance.

As regards voluntary national and international certifications, managers show that they are aware
of the most common ones. However, few of them are aware of those specific to the WEEE sector
(Responsible Recycling Certification (R2), Recycling Industry Operational Standard Certification
(RIOS), and e-Stewards Certification). Moreover, some participants show that they are not aware
of any type of standard or certification.

An important issue highlighted by Recommendation ITU-T L.1032, as well as INTE G8:2013 and
INTE-ISO 14001:2015, is staff training. Staff trained in operational issues and in their specific
tasks is key for process effectiveness and operational safety. There are other relevant subjects
in which recovery centres employees should be trained to prevent accidents and incidents
related to safety and the environment. They also need to know how to deal with incidents that
may occur in the workplace.

All managers conduct basic capacity-building activities on tasks to perform, the adequate use
of equipment and tools, as well as on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). However,

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