Page 35 - 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

5) Permanent Household Survey (EPH) from 2017 to 2020, made by the National Institute of
Statistics and Census (INDEC), from which the type and quantities of EEE in households
were obtained.

In addition, a bibliographic review of technical, legal and other documents was carried out,
which are cited in the section on Bibliography.

3.2 Scope of the WEEE Inventory in Argentina

A specific inventory was developed for eleven selected tracers to implement Recommendation
ITU-T L.1031, integrating the methodology based on market supply and the one based on
consumption, as explained in section 3.3 Methodology for estimating WEEE. By applying both
methodologies, the inventory, flows and material balances were obtained for the eleven tracers
as detailed in section 3.2.2 EEE categories: definition of tracers.

A relevant point in the implementation of Recommendation ITU-T L.1031 is to define the scope
and the main variables to develop the WEEE inventory. In this case, the classification of WEEE
to be used, the EEE categories, the geographical scope and the timeframe were defined.

3 2 1 Definition of WEEE for inventory development

Recommendation ITU-T L.1031 points out that an appropriate classification of WEEE provides
the framework to get WEEE statistics, detect waste streams, and develop key performance
indicators (KPIs) for the country. All of this is linked to the definition of sustainable WEEE
management programmes and waste prevention strategies.

There are international classifications of WEEE that ensure that their data, indicators, and
management systems are comparable and compatible worldwide.

The United Nations University (UNU) has developed classifications of EEE, known as UNU-
KEYS, related to WEEE categories. This classification aims to establish a framework for WEEE
statistics and is based on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System. In this
Case Study, the suggestion made in Recommendation ITU-T L.1031 to use the following UNU
classification has been adopted:

EEE categories:
1) Temperature exchange equipment.
2) Monitors, screens, and equipment with screens having a surface greater than 100 cm .
2
3) Lamps.
4) Large equipment, including photovoltaic cells.
5) Small equipment.
6) Small IT and telecommunication equipment.

3 2 2 EEE categories: definition of tracers

There are several classifications used in international trade to sort out goods. The most common
classification, recommended by the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and
Technology (EMPA), is the Harmonized System (HS). Since it is very complex to work with the
whole range of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) mentioned in section 3.2.1 – Definition
of WEEE for inventory development, that circulates in the country, a selection of the most relevant

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