More than 5 tons of electronic waste were collected in Easter Island during the recycling campaign organized by the Chilenter Foundation in partnership with LATAM Cargo.
The cargo company carried computers, LCD displays, cell phones, laptops, tablets, routers, cables, keyboards, printers, chargers and other electronic devices for delivery to Fundación Chilenter, the entity that reduces, reuses and recycles e-waste depending on its condition.
“Environmental protection is one of the pillars of LATAM Cargo’s sustainability plans; that is why we decided to be part of this campaign by taking concrete steps to protect and preserve such an important destination as Easter Island,” commented Andrés Bianchi, CEO LATAM Cargo.
In addition, LATAM Airlines donated 16 laptops to Easter Island’s Colegio Católico school and the children’s shelter of the Niño y Patria Foundation. “The resounding success of this campaign demonstrates that the island’s inhabitants have a genuine interest in sustainable actions that help to look after and protect this wonderful heritage,” said Carolina Ruiz, Social Assistant Director at CHILENTER.
REUSING E-WASTE
The e-waste pieces that cannot be reused in new electronic devices go to the appraisal line, where they are classified and sent to domestic and international recyclers that recover metals such as gold, silver and copper to be utilized again as raw materials.
Computers are made of 25% reusable components; 72% recyclable materials like plastic, ferrous metals, aluminum, copper, gold, nickel and tin; and 3% toxic elements like lead and mercury. By treating the latter appropriately, we can avoid polluting the water, air and soil.
Furthermore, computer recycling allows the recovery of precious metals, thus saving up to 80% of the cost of extracting them through traditional mining.