GLOBAL RECYCLING RESEARCH – CHILE

KIRAN RAJ
ESD2
January 2019

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page

1. Introduction 3

2. Existing laws 3

3. Recycling History 4

4. Recycling rates 4

5. Banned Materials 4

6. Role of manufactures 5

7. Latest news 5

8. Assessment of recycling 5

process

8.1 Plan for improvement 6

8.2 Timeline 6

9. References 7

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Introduction

Just like the case in many nations, Chile do not yet have an explicit controls or laws
identified with e-waste. An important aspect to understand this issue is connected not
exclusively to political agendas on this issue, but because there is an absence of a common
national goal and plan in reusing and transfer of harmful materials and items.

Existing Legislative Laws

A few acts were taken to arrange and enforce legislations for e-waste. But with change to
the government administration lead by President Sebastian Piera, because of the
earthquake of 27th February in southern and central Chile, it isn't clear when this law will be
prepared to be in place.
RECAL platform (Regional Platform for Electronics Waste for Latin American and Caribbean)
, an initiative by the civil society, was been attempting systematizing data, researches and
conducting case studies there, and has made a collaborative group of private-public for
promoting the management of e-waste framework in Chile. Here, a deliberate agreement
with universal organizations incorporates to reduce their e-waste and to help building the
capacity of recycling like a feature of their "extended producer responsibility".
In this specific situation, two e-waste recycling organizations in Chile was recognized, two of
them specialised in the area of refurbishing computers, and some non-benefit organisations
recycling cell phone to help charities.
The Constitution of Chile guarantees rights to: life, health live in a pollution free
environment. The efficiency of the constitutional is reduced by the lack of specific legal
provisions on e-waste.

Recycling History of Chile

From 1995, the total waste produced in the country was turned out to be dumped in many
illegal waste dumps, which were known as “Vertederos”. However, 69% of the total waste
in the country are transported into authorized landfills and rest of the wastes ended up in
illegal dumps/ Vertederos.
From an initial study on solid waste conducted by CONAMA, waste generated in Chile in
2000 was increased marginally from 12 million tons to 16.9 million tons in 2009. In addition,
CONAMA has developed guidelines for processing waste. Guidelines were established on oil
waste, batteries and other hazardous waste.

Some regulations for harmful and toxic waste was adopted in 2003 which specifies safety
measures for recycling, storage, transportation, reuse, recycling and processing of waste

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materials. Domestic waste regulations were adopted later in 2007.

Today, management of e-waste is still constrained , and are focussed only in recovery of
some equipment just for some social projects and exporting de assembled parts
internationally.

Recycling Rates
In 2015, Chile generated 18.8 million tonnes of waste and declarations was made in 2016 by
municipalities, industries and plantations. Official figure denotes that out of 17 million tons
of waste produced in Chile, only 10% are recycled. This is only 30 to 35 percentage when
compared to other developed countries like USA or Canada.
Recycla is the recycling company which dominate the recycling industry in Chile. Recycla
runs on corporate programs, as there are no laws and regulations on the management of e-
waste

Manufactures provides defective and overstocked products to Recycla and other locally
based companies approach Recycla for electronic waste recycling services. E-waste is de
assembled in the Recycla facilities. The Chilean govt handles the hazardous waste materials
and CRT, glass materials etc are handled by other local recycling companies.
Precious metals in the e-waste (PCB’s, CPU’s etc) are shipped internationally to Europe for
further processing. Out of the wastes generated in Chile, barely 3% are recycled locally.

Banned Materials in Chile

Chile is the first county in South America that legally banned the usage of commercial plastic
bags. New law was enforced by President Sebastián Piñera, has given small stores 2 years in

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adapting to a total ban, while larger companies have only 6 months of time. Two bags per
customer was only allowed in the meantime. A fine of $370 will be faced by the businesses
that break the law. Apart from the ban, the govt has also started a country wide campaign
with the vision to reduce the use of plastic straws and there is a plan to increase the
country’s infrastructure for recycling into tenfold. They have also recently signed a global
agreement for reducing the use of plastics drastically by the year 2025.

Role of manufactures in Chile

Chile’s major e-waste recycler Chilerecicla have established a joint venture in 2013 with
Green Technology Solutions, Inc., (GTSO). While benefiting the environment, the state aims
to capture a share of the business. Chile lead the US in recycling unwanted computers,
electronics and other gadgets from the waste stream.
Nestle, a swiss food and beverage company joins the recycling network to reduce and
combat waste. The company aims to install five recycling facilities through out the country
to recycle 1200 tons of waste per year and has signed partnership with various companies
like Walmart, PepsiCo and Unilever to improve the management of waste in the country.
Chilean plastic recycling company, Comber Plast is expecting benefits from the new law on
plastics. They have a vision of transforming wastes into resources. Comber Plast is also using
a part of its revenue from this in community developing projects.
Tech giants like Sony have joined in the race by operating recycling programs. Green Service
program is a recycling program which uses the participating company’s e waste are
appropriately treated. Sony aims in reducing the impacts of their products on environment.
By 2017, they have collected and treated 167 tons of e waste appropriately and they
continue with the Green Service Program.
Latest News on the country
Til-Til, a Chilean municipality and city is facing a growing garbage problem. Til- Til which
having a population of 17000 is receiving more than 12tons of garbage from Chile’s capital
city Santiago which is having a population of 7 million. This figure is expected to marginally
increase as the government is planning to install a massive waste processing facility. This has
prompted locals and environmentalist to protest governments decision.

Assessment of recycling at Til Til

Chile has seen a marvellous growth in economy in the last 15 years, but this growth has also
increased the activities of industries in areas like Til Til and hence there was a significant rise
of untreated amounts of waste, creating many environmental issues.
Land in Til Til is very scarce because of its dense population. Because of its scarce land and
booming urban areas and its geography, it is very difficult to allocate space for landfills. At
present rate, the existing landfills will be flooded within next 20 years.

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Plans for improvement:

1) Exclusive laws for managing e-waste

An exclusive legal framework for the management of e-waste must be developed and
enforced that states the proper treatment of e-wastes and must contain the concept of
Extended Producer Responsibility.

2) Promoting awareness among public

WEEE are growing at a rate that is very alarming. Development in Technologies and
thereby increase in gadget production has a major contribution in e-waste
generation. Awareness among the consumers should be the initial step in managing e-
waste. The impact of careless e-waste disposal on environment plays a havoc role in
environment pollution. Awareness among consumers can be spread through
advertisements, campaigns, and through primary education.

3) Shutting down unauthorized collection and treatment facilities

Unauthorized waste management facilities should be shut down before its too late.
These facilities uses harmful methods to treat the wastes and their landfills are flooded
with harmful wastes. Til Til has more than 10 unauthorized landfills which are already
full. These are located near farms and riversides which creates a havoc impact on the
environment and all the life forms.

Timeline
1995- Concerns regarding Vertederos started rising.
1996- Landfills in Til Til came into operation
1997- Commission of Ministers of productive development was established. This
commission approved a national policy on waste management.
2000- Study showing 12 million tons of waste produced country wide
2003-Regulations on Toxic waste
2007- Regulations on domestic waste
2009- Guidelines by CONAMA was established on waste management.
2013- Joint venture of Chilerecicla and GTSO for a new business benefiting the environment
2018- Country wide ban on plastic bags
2019 , February- Country wide advertisements raising awareness among consumers on e-
Waste
2020- Appeal on passing legislations on e-waste management
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2021- Beach clean up initiatives
2022- Empty flooded landfills in Til Til followed by other areas in Chile
2023- Increase the recycling to 33 %

References

CDI Chile. (2019). home - CDI Chile. Retrieved from http://cdichile.org/

Jean, B., International Investigation of Electronic Waste Recycling Plant Design(2010),

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Plataforma RELAC | SUR - IDRC. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.residuoselectronicos.net/

Paula,E., Management of Municipal Solid Waste in Santiago, Chile:Assessing Waste-to-Energy

Possibilities(2003),Columbia University

Recycla Chile. (2019). Recycla Chile. Retrieved from http://www.recycla.cl/

Steubing, B., E-Waste Generation in Chile, Situation Analysis and Estimation of Actual and Future
Computer Waste Quantities Using Material Flow Analysis(2007), Swiss Federal Institute of
Technology (EPFL) / Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (Empa).