Analysis of Circular Strategies for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment: A Chilean Case Study

Laura Stephany Rivera Rojas, Gustavo Gatica, José Pablo Solís Berríos, Felipe Andres Rojas Rojas, Erwin Aliaga, Rafael Alonso de la Horra Donoso, Lina Borrero

Keywords: Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment, WEEE, E-Waste, Extended Producer Responsibility, EPR, EPR Law, Circular economy.

Abstract: The rapid growth of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) has become a global environmental and management concern. In the present study, the status of WEEE in Chile, including the regulations, stakeholders, and the management process, is analyzed, with the inclusion of the circular approach followed in Switzerland, Colombia, and Japan. The PESTEL analysis method is used to identify the main factors affecting the sustainable management of WEEE, based on international best practices. On the other hand, a comprehensive circular approach has been proposed that meets the specific requirements of the Chilean context, in accordance with the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Law. The approach includes the improvement of the collection system (fixed and mobile), the modernization of pretreatment through advanced technologies, the use of financial instruments (differentiated recycling rates and tax incentives), and the importance of educating citizens. The results discuss the expected environmental, social, and economic benefits of this strategy, such as increased material recovery, reduced hazardous waste in landfills, and the integration of recyclers and conclude with policy recommendations and actions to consolidate circular WEEE management in Chile.

Submission Number: 1