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.
Rojas et al. (Thu,) studied this question.