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    Finally, a Chance for a Global Mercury Accord / Por fin, un chance para un acuerdo global sobre el mercurio

    Saturday, February 21st, 2009

    When the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Governing Council (GC) considered and agreed on the draft decision on chemicals management, including mercury, this past Thursday, I was in the room. It’s difficult to say which emotion filled the conference room more — joy or excitement. There was plenty of both. This decision had been many years […]

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    A Unique Environmental Institution

    Tuesday, January 27th, 2009

    Right now, until 05 February, environmental groups across Brazil are electing their representatives on the National Environment Council (Conselho Nacional do Meio Ambiente – CONAMA). The more than 500 environment nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in the Environment Ministry’s (MMA) National Registry of Environmental Entities (Cadastro Nacional de Entidades Ambientalistas – CNEA) are voting for which individuals […]

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    A Successful E-waste Collection Campaign in Jalisco

    Thursday, January 22nd, 2009

    Who says that Mexicans do not understand or care about the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) issue? The Mexican state of Jalisco just finished a one-month (15 December – 17 January) WEEE collection campaign organized the state environment secretariat (SEMADES) that resulted in 36.6 metric tons turned in. There would have been much more […]

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    Minas’ New State Waste Law Features Take-Back

    Sunday, January 18th, 2009

    Last week the governor of Minas Gerais (MG) signed the State Solid Waste Policy Law.  The Law’s 57 articles establish the principles, guidelines, goals and instruments for the correct management of waste, and defines the obligations of different waste generators and the users of urban sanitation services. Minas is not the first Brazilian state to […]

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    One of the Biggest Collectors of Spent Batteries in Brazil

    Monday, January 12th, 2009

    If you thought the title of this post refered to one of the battery manufacturers or a major retail chain such as Wal-Mart or Carrefour, think again. It’s a bank. Banco Real, part of the Santander Group, collected 127 metric tons (mT) in 2008 — 70 mT in just São Paulo (SP) state itself.  Banco […]

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    Minas Trumpets Its Waste Policy Achievements

    Saturday, December 27th, 2008

    Minas Gerais, Brazil’s second most populous state and one of its mining, metals and agriculture powerhouses, is pretty proud of its recent accomplishments in waste policy and management. I’ve chronicled here a couple of their steps, such as the modernized inspection/enforcement regime and the creation of the Waste Reference Center (CMRR). But that only touches […]

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    An E-Waste Bill for Santa Catarina / Projeto de Lei Sobre E-Lixo para Santa Catarina

    Thursday, September 18th, 2008

    Earlier this month a bill was introduced in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina (SC) to impose extended producer responsibility (EPR) for end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment — WEEE, e-waste or “technological trash” (lixo tecnológico) as Brazilians like to call it. SC is not the first state to attempt legislation on this subject.  Mato […]

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    Brazil Adopts New Battery Rules

    Friday, September 12th, 2008

    Brazil’s National Environment Council (CONAMA) just replaced the country’s groundbreaking 1999 rules on the environmental management of batteries and piles (pilhas) with even tougher ones. Manufacturers should take note, since legislators and regulators in other Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) nations will.  The original rules served as a reference point for many LAC policymakers, particularly […]

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    Puerto Rico to Regulate E-waste?

    Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008

    A Temas Note: As you know, The Temas Blog is first and foremost about Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Is Puerto Rico (PR) part of LAC? Many don’t include it in their classification of LAC because of its ties to the US. Others do, citing its geographic location and its sociocultural ties to Spanish-speaking […]

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    A Solid Waste Plan for Costa Rica

    Friday, July 18th, 2008

    Recently Costa Rica was presented its long-awaited Solid Waste Plan (PRESOL) by the entities belonging to the Inter-Institutional Platform of the Competitiveness and Environment Program (CYMA): the Health Ministry (MinSalud), the Planning Ministry (Mideplan), the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE), the Institute for Municipal Development and Advice (Instituto de Fomento y Asesoria Municipal – […]

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