Released February 9, 2021.

Equipment demand electronics in the world is growing, and each update or major improvements implies the insertion of new equipment to the market, which ultimately causes a significant increase in the generation of waste derived from these products (we are talking about mobile and electronic equipment, among others).

To be more specific, according to the report “Global E-Waste Monitor 2020”, published by the UN, during 2019 the globally produced 53.6 million tons of equipment waste electronic and electrical (WEEE), of which only 17.4% is recyclable. In Chile, official figures show that the generation of WEEE in 2019 was 196,236 tons, and the percentage of waste from electrical equipment and electronic treated was only 3.3%.

Faced with this problem, from the Ministry of the Environment comment that, although the Rep. Law does not yet have a decree for WEEE, “we have developed an intense previous work with different organizations to collect relevant information for the process of development of regulations ”. Among other issues, “there are reports supported by the UN and UNIDO that have revealed key data on the operation of this market and possible alternatives to install a system capable of taking over and take advantage of electronic waste generated in Chile ”.

Regarding the operation of the system and the goals that are established, the agency affirms that “they will be developed in the work process that involves the elaboration of the preliminary project, which will be supported by an expanded operating committee cross".

Key facts

6.499 tons of WEEE were collected throughout Chile, in 2019.

80% of WEEE exports from our country corresponds to components of large computer equipment (E2BIZ, 2019).

14 kilos of electronic scrap is estimated to be generated by each inhabitant of Chile by the year 2027.

More information https://n9.cl/wq0fc