2024-04-18 00:34:04
This Entel campaign has the purpose of being a contribution to the circular economy, in the context of the UN warning that in 2022, 62 million tons of electronic waste were generated worldwide and less than a quarter of it was properly recycled.
Entel, in alliance with Kyklos, launched a new version of the Reuse x Chile campaign, which aims to contribute to the circular economy through the recycling or restoration of cell phones, CPUs, tablets and disused computers.
At the same time, it invites people to contribute to digital inclusion, since each year a part of this equipment is recovered and reconditioned, and then donated to educational establishments and students in vulnerable contexts.
Three years ago, Reutiliza x Chile emerged, traveling the country from end to end in search of disused equipment. In 2023 the initiative collected 23 tons of electronic waste and by 2024 it hopes to collect more than 30 tons.
This initiative makes even more sense if you consider that the United Nations (UN) warned a few days ago that during 2022, 62 million tons of electronic waste were generated, but only 22.3% were recycled properly, and it is estimated that in 2030 82 million tons of electronic waste will be generated.
The launch of the 2024 version of the Entel Reutiliza x Chile tour took place in the Plaza de Armas of Osorno and was attended by the mayor, Emeterio Carrillo; the regional councilor and member of the Environment Commission, Alexis Casanova; and the director of Public Affairs and Institutional Relations of Entel, Claudio Anabalón, as well as representatives of civil society such as the Environmental Brigade of the Sociedad del Socorro de Señora School.
“As a management, we are happy that Osorno has been chosen to launch this campaign, since in today’s world recycling has become an important action to have a more sustainable environment,” said the mayor of Osorno, Emeterio Carrillo. .
He added that “this initiative contributes to the series of actions that, as a municipality, we are carrying out in this matter, and where we can highlight our successful Communal Recycling Program that, to date, has collected more than 700 tons of waste such as papers. , cardboard, glass and plastics.”
At the launch, the news for this new 2024 edition was announced, which, to exceed the previous year’s goal, will visit almost twice as many cities as in 2023, going from 56 to 106 for this year, between Arica and Punta Arenas .
Many of these cities currently do not have a recycling system for electrical and electronic devices, so the Reuse campaign is often the only option.
In addition, 75% of the route will continue to be carried out in a 100% electric truck in order to reduce the environmental impact in CO2 emissions by up to five times, compared to a combustion truck.
For his part, the regional councilor and member of the Environment Commission, Alexis Casanova mentioned that “the Los Lagos Region and the city of Osorno, in particular, face multiple challenges in the environmental field and circular economy…The Reutiliza tour through Chile contributes to address it in a very concrete way in our country.”
Between 2022 and 2023, 178 teams were collected in Osorno alone and 865 in the Los Lagos Region. Data confirmed by the director of Public Affairs and Institutional Relations of Entel, Claudio Anabalón.
“We are happy to launch the 2024 version of Reutiliza x Chile in Osorno. It is the first time that we are starting the campaign from the south of Chile and specifically in the Lakes Region, which is one of the regions that in the history of this program has collected the most devices,” declared the executive.
Appliances reconditioned by Reutiliza x Chile
Since the Reutiliza x Chile tour began in 2020, 35,870 pieces of equipment have been collected throughout the country, which has allowed the donation of 3,490 reconditioned pieces of equipment to students in vulnerable contexts.
In its 2023 version, Reutiliza x Chile donated nearly 1,000 reconditioned devices that benefited students from different regions of Chile.
“This year Entel celebrates 60 years of bringing technology to Chileans, no matter where they live, and we are in full implementation of our sustainability strategy that is aligned with our DNA. “One of the pillars refers to our contribution to a sustainable transformation and this initiative seeks, precisely, to take charge of the management of electronic waste, to recycle it or recover the equipment that can be reconditioned to donate it to the young people who need it most,” concluded Anabalon.
Along with the visit of the collection truck to various parts of the country, Kyklos has been in charge of leading talks and activities related to raising awareness about electronic recycling, in various educational establishments throughout Chile.
Between 2022 and 2023, they visited 137 schools, thanks to which almost 14,600 students learned about electronic waste and its effects.