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

MSW collection
Brought by users to IT shops
Worst case
Best case
Base scenario
Auctions (middlemen)
Informal collection (from IT shops)
Informal collection (from users)
Formal collection
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000
Computer Waste [tons/year]
Figure 17: Analysis of collection pathways for computer waste in Colombia, comparison of the
three scenarios.
Looking at the final destination of computer waste in Colombia for the year 2009
(Figure 18), it can be observed that at the end the bigger portion (in mass, without
material distinction) is going to a sound treatment. This can be explained by the huge
quantities of metals (around 2,500 tons for the base scenario) that are assumed to be
recycled, locally or after export. However, another important portion is going to nonsuitable
destinations. The significant fractions in this case are plastics and CRT
glass.
Computer Waste [tons]
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
0
Illegal disposal,
Landfilling
Local recycling,
Export, Safe disposal
Stockpiling, Burning,
Unknown
Base scenario 2,298 3,246 277
Best case 1,167 2,588 214
Worst case 4,205 4,373 522
Figure 18: Final destination of computer waste formal and informally treated in Colombia in
2009 according to the three modeled scenarios.
3.4.4 Assessment of CRT glass flows
According to Swiss and Colombian experts, one of the worst problems concerning
current computer recycling in Colombia is that huge flows of CRTs end up in landfills,
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