Page 17 - 2016 Integrated management and disposal of electrical and electronic waste and used electrical and electronic equipment in Latin America

In Table 4, there are some basic principles and definitions of environmental sustainability for the management of
e-waste. The main aim of EoL management is to extend the use of the component materials through recovery or
recycling.

Table 4 – Terminology and management processes of e-waste

Reuse: Extension of the end of life of equipment or component parts to be used for the same purpose for which
they were originally conceptualized; this may or may not include a change in ownership of the equipment. This
process aims to promote optimal use of available resources, but social or environmental risks associated with poor
management should be taken into account.

Dismantling and segregation: This involves careful manual separation of the parts and components of a piece of
equipment in disuse. It is suggested that this activity be carried out by authorized recycling companies that
specialize in reconditioning.

Recycling and recovery: This process involves the recovery of devices, components and material. The dismantling
can be manual or semi-manual. The recovery of materials is part of the WEEE recycling process, especially for metal
recovery, which requires specialized facilities and investment.

Refurbishment: This is any process that allows re-utilization of EEE that was previously WEEE. It includes changes
in hardware and software.

Final disposition: In the process of final disposal of waste or materials, non-recoverable materials can be disposed
of in controlled landfills (dumps) or by incinerating.

Source: (ITU, 2013)
The principles of reduce, reuse and recycle (3Rs) should also be taken into account for the proper management of
e-waste in order to minimize the generation of waste throughout its life cycle by employing innovative and efficient
processes and technologies. Reuse is an alternative that should include the implementation of a proper collection
and refurbishment process. Reusing products has its limitations; it can only temporarily extend the life of the
equipment.

Thus, for any decision regarding extension of the lifespan of ICT equipment and other obsolete or inoperative
e-waste for material recovery, recycling should be considered. These recycling processes should be carried out
using environmentally sustainable management methods and technologies. Some ICT equipment, for example,
require specific methodologies and specialized recovery processes that often can only be performed by skilled
operators and recycling companies using specialized equipment. (ITU, 2013)

Recycling and recovery of e-waste
The process of recycling of e-waste enables the recovery of metals and/or scarce materials that serve as raw
material for the production of EEE. In the report "Recycling: from WEEE to Resources", the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Step Initiative emphasize the importance of recycling as a means to
contain environmental pollution by controlling hazardous materials contained in e-waste. The study explains that
modern electrical appliances may contain up to 60 types of different elements–some of them valuable, others
hazardous and some both. Thus, EEE represents the largest source of consumption–and therefore demand–for
many of the world’s precious and specialized metals. (Step Initiative, UNEP, 2009)
The e-waste recycling chain consists of three activities: collection; classification/dismantling and pre-processing
(including sorting, dismantling and mechanical processing); and final processing. The chain, described in Figure 2,
often results in separate components or fractions of materials that can re-enter the market for reuse and/or as a
source of feedstock for other processes. (UNEP, Step Initiative, 2009)

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