Page 13 - Management of waste electrical and electronic equipment in Latin America Current situation and outlook

Management of waste electrical and electronic equipment in
Latin America: Current situation and outlook

Figure 1: Outline of the basic elements that constitute an integral national WEEE
management system

Source: Adapted from (Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia, 2023) and (United Nations
University, 2018).

The situation assessment is the initial phase of a national system for WEEE management, which
will enable the scale of the problem in the country to be gauged in terms of the types and
quantities of EEE placed on the market, estimates of WEEE generation, collection and treatment
infrastructure, and current regulations, among other aspects. Once this information is available,
work can begin on developing and consolidating the elements presented in Figure 1.

To develop and consolidate a national management system, it is crucial to establish public
policies and legislative frameworks that enshrine EPR as a guiding principle. These frameworks
must have clear objectives and incorporate key definitions to ensure a shared understanding
among stakeholders. They must also explicitly state which categories of EEE and WEEE the
legislation applies. Incorporating the relevant stakeholders, their roles and their responsibilities
into the legislation is essential for the successful implementation of EPR. Although the specific
key actors and their roles and responsibilities vary by country, they must be clearly defined in
the legislation United Nations University, 2018. Figure 2 presents a list of key players, drawn
from the experience of countries participating in the PREAL Project.

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