Page 16 - 2016 Integrated management and disposal of electrical and electronic waste and used electrical and electronic equipment in Latin America

The characteristics of each of these categories will determine the best treatment process and disposal for their
respective equipment after EoL. The logistics of collection, management and recycling of this equipment should
be carried out according to its characteristics.
E-waste can come from household, professional, industrial, institutional or other uses. Its generation depends on
several factors, including the useful life of the equipment (e.g., computers, televisions, etc.), the need for renewal
of the equipment by users (e.g., mobile phones) and major technological changes (e.g., the global system for
mobile communications (GSM) to the universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) mobile telephony). For
example, according to Step Initiative and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the average lifespan of
a mobile phone is estimated at three to five years. (GSMA, 2014) This use should be taken into account as it highly
contributes to the rapid growth of e-waste globally.
Sustainable management of e-waste

The majority of the e-waste and its components are recycled or reused by formal or informal programmes,
depending on the recycling capacities of the country where the e-waste is generated. If e-waste is properly
managed, business opportunities can be created to meet the need for reconditioning of equipment and recovery
of raw materials. Governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the ICT sector consider e-waste
management a tool and opportunity for sustainable development. (ITU, 2014)
E-waste is a complex mixture of hazardous and non-hazardous materials that requires specialized processes of
collection, transportation, segregation, treatment and disposal. It is important to be familiar with the life cycle of
EEE to understand its potential environmental impacts. Figure 1 describes the life cycle of EEE and the processes it
undergoes once it becomes e-waste.

Figure 1: Life cycle of e-waste

Source: (ILO, 2012)

In 2013, ITU published the Toolkit on Environmental Sustainability for the ICT Sector, which addresses the
importance of the management of EEE at EoL. It includes e-waste–specifically ICT equipment. The report proposes
that if the equipment does not meet the ICT needs of its initial user, it should not be assumed that the appliance
is in poor condition or obsolete; it could be useful to another person. The EoL principle suggests that it may be
possible to extend its life by reusing the item by other users or for other purposes. Furthermore, the principle also
stresses that the component parts and materials can be recovered or recycled at the end of a product’s useful life.
(ITU, 2013)

6 Sustainable management of waste electrical and electronic equipment in Latin America