The file additionally reveals that digital waste in 13 Latin American international locations rose by 49% between 2010 and 2019, roughly the world common. The difficulty is that simply 3% was collected and safely managed, a fraction of the 17.4% world common.
Actually, out of the 13 collaborating international locations, solely Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Peru have instituted particular laws for e-waste and Prolonged Producer Accountability (EPR) programs specializing in e-waste regulation. The remainder of the international locations have some authorized and regulatory frameworks for common waste administration.
Some figures
In 2019, e-waste generated by 206 million residents within the 13 international locations below scrutiny reached 1,300,000 tons —equal in weight to a 670 kilometers line of fully-loaded 40-ton vehicles. The comparable determine in 2010 was 900,000 tons, generated by about 185 million residents.
The examine discovered that one-third of the area’s e-waste consists of small gear corresponding to microwaves, grills and toasters, audio system, cameras. The subsequent largest classes are giant gear corresponding to dishwashers, washing machines, ovens, and central heating programs, in addition to temperature trade gear like fridges, freezers, air conditioners, and warmth pumps.
The UN’s evaluation decided that whereas casual recyclers cherry-pick some valuable elements from waste electronics and electrical gear, 97% is wrongly managed and simply 3% is understood to be collected and handled in services utilizing environmentally sound strategies.
Of the international locations evaluated, Costa Rica has the best e-waste assortment of 8% or 1 kilo per inhabitant of its complete e-waste generated, adopted by Chile with 5% or 0.4 kg per inhabitant.
Along with valuable materials, poisonous substances have been additionally discovered within the area’s e-waste. Such substances embody no less than 2200 kilos of mercury, 600 kilos of cadmium, 4.4 million kilos of lead, 4 million kilos of brominated flame retardants, and 5.6 megatonnes of greenhouse fuel equivalents.
These components “are poorly managed throughout the area and are prone to be untreated, producing varied dangers to the steadiness of a wholesome setting,” the report reads.
Given this case, the doc calls on all international locations in Latin America to introduce and implement both a sturdy authorized and coverage framework centered on environmentally sound administration of e-waste and chronic natural pollution contained in e-waste, or monitor and reinforce current programs to make them extra environment friendly and efficient.