Page 64 - 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

materials. There must also be a greater focus on preventing WEEE generation and promoting
policies aimed at eco-design and circular economy. Regional and international cooperation,
together with continuous learning, will be essential in closing the existing gaps and moving
towards sustainable WEEE management.

The project also succeeded in establishing a support network among the governing institutions
of the participating countries, which has enabled the exchange of experience and information
on the best available practices in each country. This network should be strengthened to continue
developing regional synergies that allow these issues to be addressed jointly. The collaborative
platform established through the PREAL project should also continue to organize regional and
international training and awareness-raising events.
Based on this progress, the next step is to turn the accumulated experience into concrete
actions. Below is a list of recommendations for Latin American countries aimed at strengthening
the national WEEE management systems and moving them towards a more sustainable and
circular model.
• Policies and regulations:

1. Continue developing, strengthening and periodically reviewing public policies and
national regulations.
2. Promote the sustainable consumption of EEE to reduce the generation of WEEE.
3. Promote the circular economy in the manufacture of EEE, as well as in repair and
reconditioning.

4. Control the imports of EEE with regulations such as the Restriction of Hazardous
Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS).
5. Strengthen and implement EPR schemes, from incorporating them into national
legislation to ensuring their effective implementation.
• Technical standards:

1. Develop and implement national, regional, and international standards that promote
the circular economy in the region.

2. Establish national technical standards to protect health and the environment and to
ensure the occupational safety of those involved in the management of WEEE at various
stages.
• Data and indicators:

1. Consolidate systems for collecting and systematizing data.
2. Establish control mechanisms for EEE imports, using globally harmonized codes.
3. Generate key performance indicators that enable the integral management of WEEE
to be self-assessed.
• Value chain

1. Expand the scope of national WEEE management systems to include the entire value
chain: producers, distributors, marketers, consumers and end users, with clearly
defined roles and responsibilities.

• Academia:
1. Recognize academia as a key player in the formation of human capital, research,
innovation, and development.

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