10 07 29 Master thesis Juliana Leon - e-Waste. This guide

The quantities calculated for 2009 are shown in Table 9. This figures rounded to the
next hundred are taken as input for the MFA scenarios presented in chapter 3.4.
Table 9: Computer waste generation in Colombia in 2009 according to lower, middle, and
higher scenarios.
Scenario Total Units Total Tons
Lower 598,467 6,073
Middle 790,468 8,063
Higher 1,153,888 11,332
3.2 Current disposal options
In this chapter, current disposal options existing in Colombia are presented with
exception of the informal sector that will be presented in a chapter of its own.
3.2.1 Formal e-waste processors
In recent years, a certain number of formal e-waste recycling companies with
environmental licence have started the collection of e-waste, mainly from private
businesses. However, only few of these companies are making recycling processes
themselves. The others are only collecting e-waste as part of an integrated
management of industrial waste service they offer on a business-to-business basis
and, then, transmitting collected e-waste to processors. A compilation of the existing
e-waste related formal companies is shown in Table 10.
Although accurate data from CENARE, CI Recycables, eCycling, Ecoeficiencia, and
Ecoprocesamiento was gathered, quantities about one of the bigger processors, Lito
Ltda, 5 or about another possible processor, Aire were not obtained. The amount of
computer waste received by CI Recycables and all its suppliers that is originating
exclusively from Medium and Large Businesses 6 (MLBs) is estimated to be between
5 Except data about the temporary take-back campaign organized by Lito in 2009 and addressed to all
sectors, in particular households.
6 For the definition of this category of users have a look at chapter 3.2.4.2.
21