Page 17 - Implementation of the ITU-T International Standards for the Sustainable Management of Electrical and Electronic Equipment: On the road to a circular economy in Argentina

Executive Summary

In the framework of the Project on Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment for Latin America
(PREAL), Argentina started in 2019, in partnership with the International Telecommunication
Union (ITU), a pilot for the implementation of Recommendation ITU-T L.1031 "Guideline for
1
achieving the e-waste targets of the Connect 2030 Agenda".

One of the goals of the project is to develop a Case Study on the implementation of
Recommendation ITU-T L.1031 as a contribution to strengthening WEEE management systems
with a focus on Circular Economy.
Specific objectives agreed upon for this initiative were the following:

1) Implement step 1 of Recommendation ITU-T L.1031 on the chain players by developing
a comprehensive e-waste inventory on eleven selected tracers.
2) Document the development of modifications needed based on the implementation
experience gained in Argentina.
3) Improve regional cooperation in e-waste management by disseminating the results.

The information gathered in the project will enable the development of public policies and
strategies to strengthen the WEEE national management system and the adoption of the
Circular Economy model. It will also enable the implementation of strategies to strengthen
capacities and raise awareness of the players involved in the WEEE value chain, especially
recovery centres and informal recyclers.

This Case Study documents the process developed to implement Recommendation ITU-T L.1031,
as well as the main results obtained, opportunities for improvement, and recommendations
for the country.

Section 1 contains a summary of the objectives and scope of Recommendation ITU-T L.1031, as
well as the scope of the work carried out in Argentina. Section 2 shows the demographic and
economic parameters of Argentina, as well as the regulatory framework underpinning WEEE
sustainable management in the country. The current situation of WEEE management is also
explained, as are the opportunities identified to implement Recommendation ITU-T L.1031.

Section 3 provides a comprehensive guide for the implementation of Recommendation ITU-T
L.1031. It analyses the information used and the scope of the inventory developed, explaining the
process followed for the selection of the project’s eleven tracers: refrigerators, washing machines,
flat-panel TVs, CRT TVs, cell phones, laptops, PCs, flat-panel monitors, CRT monitors, and small
2
3
IT equipment and printers. It also describes the methodology used for WEEE estimation, as
well as an analysis of the players and stakeholders involved in WEEE management in Argentina,
together with their roles and responsibilities. It addresses the information gathering process
through surveys of importers and managers, and the assessment of material flows.

Section 4 describes the challenges faced by Argentina to strengthen the national WEEE
management system, and the opportunities for improvement identified. Lessons learned are
highlighted, with recommendations for countries that are launching a national WEEE sustainable
management system or need to apply the ITU-T Recommendation implemented in Argentina.

1 Available at https:// www .itu .int/ rec/ T -REC -L .1031/ en.
2 Television or monitor that works with a cathode ray tube (CRT).
3 PC: Personal computer.

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