Page 22 - 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

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

1 Sustainable management of WEEE and its contribution to the

Circular Economy – Recommendation ITU-T L.1031

As in the rest of the world, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is a growing
problem in Argentina. In industrialized and developing countries, the generation of this type
of waste is growing at a much faster pace than any other waste. Public and private sectors,
individuals and institutions, and practically every sector of the economy generate this kind of
waste at some point, i.e., they are generated universally.

In addition, this waste may contain recoverable materials with a high market value, including
non-renewable minerals whose extraction process has significant ecological and social impacts.
At the same time, they contain substances that may be hazardous. This is why the Circular
Economy has become widespread in recent years, with new ways of producing and consuming,
and a more sustainable model that optimizes the flow of materials, water and energy.

This model would allow the preservation of natural reserves and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions. Consequently, it will improve water, air and soil quality, preserve biodiversity, and,
in general terms, the integrity of the ecosystems. In turn, all of this will be directly related to
the adaptation and resilience capacities of ecosystems to the changes anticipated because of
global warming.

In principle, the aim of the circular approach applied to WEEE is to maximize the lifetime of
electrical and electronic equipment through re-use strategies, donation, or commercialization
of second-hand equipment.

All this gives economic sense to the recycling of WEEEs and recognizes that they require
special and differentiated treatment with respect to other types of waste to avoid damaging
the environment and health.

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the WEEE generation in various ways during 2020. On the
one hand, the production and discarding of electrical appliances were reduced because the
WEEE collection points were closed or disabled for months. It meant that in the first half of 2020,
the volume of waste reaching the WEEE sorting and recycling plants was reduced.

In this pilot, Argentina implemented one of the ITU-T Recommendations that provided relevant
basic information to strengthen the national WEEE management system. This information will
allow the country to develop public policies and strategies for the WEEE sector to progress in
the sustainable management of WEEE, as well as the adoption of the Circular Economy model.
It will also enable the setting up of strategies to strengthen capacities and increase WEEE value
chain players´ awareness.

1.1 Recommendation ITU-T L.1031 “Guideline for achieving the
e-waste targets of the Connect 2030 Agenda”

ITU-T Recommendations are standards that define how telecommunication networks operate
and interact. They are not binding if they are not adopted in the country's legislation. However,
the level of compliance is high given their international applicability, and the fact that they are
developed by the ITU-T Secretariat and members from the world's leading companies and
administrations.

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