Extended producer responsibility for electronic devices in Ecuador - Kick-off event in Quito

---

Considering that Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) is currently the largest growing waste stream in the world, the Secretariat of Environment of the Municipality of the Metropolitan District of Quito (MDMQ), is developing the project "E-nnovating Quito", funded by the Secretariat PREVENT Waste Alliance as part of the initiative of the Federal Government of Germany. The objective of the project is to raise public awareness through mobile units, serving as learning centers on the proper management of WEEE and at the same time as mobile collectors of disused electrical devices. On the other hand, a framework for a local Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme involving relevant stakeholders along the WEEE value chain will be developed and discussed.

EPR has proven to be a successful approach and is being implemented in countries around the world. Also, it is codified by the new Circular Economy Law, adopted in Ecuador in 2021. Thus, the Secretariat of the Environment of the MDMQ with the technical support of: Vertmonde, Cyclos and the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment, Energy, organizes the virtual workshop "Principles of Extended Producer Responsibility: what you need to know about EPR schemes“. The event, hold on September 21, 2021, was the first of a series of virtual workshops related to the "Design and implementation of a local REP for WEEE in Quito".

This event is part of a series of workshops within the Capacity Building component of the "E-nnovating Quito" project, which seeks the participation of municipalities, associations, producers, importers, NGOs, universities, research institutions, etc., as key actors who can share their experiences and knowledge on the subject, as well as what they consider are the main barriers and opportunities that exist at the local and/or national level on the management of WEEE.