Mato Grosso Requires Cell Phone Take-Back
Sunday, May 17th, 2009It’s a very brief law — two articles, a total of four lines. But it may have a significant impact on the Brazilian market for cell phones and their accessories if other states follow Mato Grosso’s (MT) lead. When MT passed its e-waste law last year, the list of items covered did not include cell […]
Toward a Sustainable Photovoltaics Industry
Saturday, March 14th, 2009Photovoltaic (PV) technology usually is portrayed as a “win-win” solution that can harness “free” solar energy to address climate change, reduce dependence on fossil fuel imports and create “green jobs.” Its greater use has often been advocated for many of the nations of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) (see here, here, here and here). […]
Swiss to Help Minas Prepare E-waste Diagnosis
Monday, March 9th, 2009The government of Brazil’s Minas Gerais state wants to regulate waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE, or “e-waste” or “e-scrap”), and with their new state waste policy law, they have ample authority to do so. There’s just one problem: they are not sure of the full extent and nature of the e-waste problem in their […]
HP Opens First Printer Cartridge Recycling Facility in Latin America
Monday, February 9th, 2009HP has just raised the stakes in producer responsibility for printer cartridge manufacturers operating in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). HP and Lexmark already were ahead of other manufacturers in offering cartridge recovery programs in the region. HP has now gone one step further — it just opened Latin America’s first printer recycling center […]
Minas Trumpets Its Waste Policy Achievements
Saturday, December 27th, 2008Minas 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 […]
An E-Waste Bill for Santa Catarina / Projeto de Lei Sobre E-Lixo para Santa Catarina
Thursday, September 18th, 2008Earlier 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 […]
Cell Phone Recycling in Brazil Weak?
Wednesday, August 6th, 2008Last month Nokia publicized the results of a survey it commissioned of 6,500 consumers in 13 nations, among them Brazil (the only LAC nation included). By now you know the drill — this is The Temas Blog, so we care mostly about the LAC nation involved and very little about the other 12! [Besides, I […]
Paraná’s E-Waste Law / A Lei de Paraná Sobre E-lixo
Thursday, July 24th, 2008Last month the southern Brazilian state of Paraná adopted a law requiring manufacturers, distributors and vendors of “informatics” equipment operating in that state to set up a system for the recovery, recycling or destruction of their end-of-life (EOL) products that “does not pollute the environment.” “Informatics” is not defined in the law, but in Latin […]
A Solid Waste Plan for Costa Rica
Friday, July 18th, 2008Recently 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 – […]
Mato Grosso’s E-Waste Law / A Lei de Mato Grosso Sobre E-lixo
Sunday, June 1st, 2008Last month, while The Temas Blog was still on hiatus, the central Brazilian state of Mato Grosso (MT) became the first Latin American jurisdiction to pass a specific law on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), or “technological trash” (lixo tecnológico) as Brazilians tend to call it.* The new law creates a take-back regime and […]
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