Overview

The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MinAmbiente) issued Decree 284 on February 15, 2018, which aims to comprehensively regulate the waste management of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) to prevent and minimize adverse impacts on the environment.

Applicability

The provisions of the Decree apply to:

• Producers
• Traders
• Users or consumers of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE)
• WEEE managers
• Relevant authorities involved in the integral management of the appliances and their waste.

Key Measures

The Decree establishes measures for registering producers and traders of EEE, which will be implemented by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism. This regulation provides guidelines for public entities and consumers for the proper management of their waste.

The primary goal is to regulate the entry of non-hazardous waste into the economic cycle of the country (recycling) through awareness campaigns. The labels of products will also be regulated to ensure clarity about their components and any environmental risks that may affect consumers.

It should be noted that not only producers are obligated to receive WEEE from consumers, but marketers must also facilitate this process, provided certain conditions are met.

Moreover, waste managers are required to possess the respective environmental licenses and issue the certifications needed by producers and marketers to demonstrate compliance with their obligations.

The Decree will take effect on February 16, 2019.