In the most recent edition of the recycling campaign, a record was reached in electronic waste collection in San Juan. The initiative was led by the province, in collaboration with the Secretariat of Environment and the Mariano Moreno Central University College.
The event, which took place on Saturday, September 13 at the college’s headquarters, attracted hundreds of citizens who joined the initiative.
Eco-consciousness, hand in hand with students
The community came together to responsibly dispose of a wide range of equipment, from computers and monitors to printers, phones, and small appliances.
Electronic waste recycling campaign. (Photo: San Juan Government).
This latest edition of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) collection campaign set a record, surpassing 10 tons. In total, 10,480 kilos of unused devices were collected, promoting circular economy and sustainability.
This successful campaign was organized by the school’s Environmental Club, under the guidance of teacher Adriana Carabajal and 32 students.
The initiative is part of the Creating Solidarity Actions (CAS) project, which aims to promote ecological awareness in San Juan society and educate about the importance of responsible management of electronic waste.
For the success of the event, the Secretariat of Environment and Sustainable Development provided logistical support, including transportation, loading and unloading personnel, and process supervision. All collected material was transported to the Environmental Technologies Park (PTA) for weighing and inventorying.
Recovery and valorization of components
Successful weekend campaign. (Photo: San Juan Government).
As they explained, the next step will be the collection and dismantling of the devices at the PTA. The process aims to recover and reuse components that are still functional to give them a new useful life.
This way, it prevents these hazardous waste from ending up in landfills, reducing their negative impact on the environment and contributing to material recovery.
These actions are crucial, as proper management of WEEE helps protect our ecosystems on the path to a greener future.
How electronic waste affects the environment
The unstoppable technological advances brought by this digital age require users to constantly stay updated.
Each year, new models of computers, cell phones, TVs, among others, are produced, shortening their lifespan more and more to keep consumption going. The consequences of this go straight to the environment: electronic waste.
Electronic waste and environmental damage.
This directly impacts human health. How? The chemical elements and metals in each device are highly toxic: they contain mercury, cadmium, and lead.
When they are improperly disposed of and carelessly handled, the chemicals inevitably seep into the soil, reaching groundwater and endangering people, crops, and wildlife alike.
