Page 8 - Implementation of ITU-T international standards for sustainable management of waste electrical and electronic equipment: The path to a circular economy in Costa Rica

Electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) has become
part of every aspect of our daily lives, providing
society with greater convenience, health and safety,
and facilitating the acquisition and exchange of
information. However, constant technological
innovations, coupled with increased consumerism,
accelerate the replacement of such products.
Consequently, the volume of waste electrical and
electronic equipment (WEEE) generated increases
year after year, which leads us to face the other side
of this consumption pattern, the challenge of managing sustainably such waste according to
the principles of the circular economy.

The implementation of Recommendations ITU-T L.1031 and ITU-T L.1032 in Costa Rica
introduces Extended Producer Responsibility, reorganizes the roles of the actors involved in
WEEE management, and set up collection and recycling objectives.

WEEE management is a complex issue covering many aspects. From organization to
implementation, selective collection, and classification and treatment systems, authorities face
difficult issues from technical, legal, economic, and educational points of view. This project
provides the country and the LAC (Latin America and the Caribbean) region with practical
insights, experiences, and guidelines on the appropriated organization of WEEE management
towards a circular economy.

The Basel Regional Centre for South America (CRBAS) congratulates Costa Rican institutions
and other organizations that have supported the realization of this study.

Leila Devia
Director
Basel Regional Centre for South America (CRBAS)

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