e-waste Collection in Bogota

Colombia has been chosen by the Centro Regional del Convenio de Basilea (CRCB) for South America, based in Argentina, and the Secretariat of the Convention, based in Geneva, for a Pilot Collection Study of obsolete personal computers and printers, in order to approach the problems of this waste stream and set guidelines for proper environmental management at each management stage, i.e. collection, sorting, refurbishment, dismantling, recycling and final disposal of componentes and materials.

On the one hand, the study serves as a first approximation for the information technology and communication sector and the consumers, in order to define management policies and evaluate potential business opportunities for waste from computers and printers.

On the other hand, the results should serve as a tool and provide inputs to the National Government and other countries in the region, which are currently in the process of gathering information on their e-waste management status, for the definition of local policies and regulatory guidelines in order to promote an environmentally sound and sustainable e-waste recycling.

During the four days of collection, the following numbers of equipments were taken back:

In total, these numbers represent more than 15 tons of ewaste. All the equipment taken back, was sorted and tested by Computadores para Educar (CPE). Still functional computers, printers and peripherals with a minimal standard were transfered to the refurbishment center, the rest was recycled in the CENARE (National e-waste Recycling Centre from CPE).

A more detailed analysis of the pilot collection can be found in the report from Computadores para Educar, which can be downloaded below.