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After conducting the analysis of the open
information and relevant literature of the Chilean legislation and after
the analysis of information obtained through interviews, field trips and
development of education and dissemination activities, the "Diagnosis
and Management of Used Batteries" project was implemented during the
months of June to December 1998, at the Valparaíso community.
The general vision of the experience can be
summarised in the sense that it is a new subject from the point of view of
people who were involved in the implementation of the project. This was
part of a standards and environmental policy development processes in the
country which still lacks depth, specificity and cultural commitment. The
latter is reflected in the absence of habits, sensitivity or awareness
and, on the other hand, real and concrete processes and structures that
address the problem.
Development of the project led to the
following conclusions:
Chile does not have procedures or
installations for the exclusive final disposal of batteries.
There is only one company in Chile with
installed capacity for the final disposal of batteries using inertisation
and safety deposit disposal procedures, with a very high cost of about
UF10 plus VAT (around 375 US dollars). This makes the development of a
collection campaign for these devices very difficult to conduct on a large
scale.
The legislation of the country refers to
the disposal of dangerous waste in general but there is no specific
regulation for batteries. However, there are guiding experiences to that
end.
For the development of this project, a
battery disposal procedure was designed, consisting of the collection of
the batteries in high-density 25-litre capacity polyethylene drums, placed
inside attractive public use containers. They had an outstanding success.
The municipality personnel collect these drums from the collection sites
located at schools, and battery sale outlets participating in the project.
The final disposal is made in the plant of the specialised firm.
During 1997, 129.004.469 batteries entered
the country. This means a per capita use of about 5 to 10 batteries, in
agreement with what the literature shows for developed countries. From
January to September 1998, 80.014.501 batteries entered, but this does not
include the months where these items have greater demand (November and
December).
In 1997, the volume in economic terms
corresponds to a market of US$14.672.000.
In surveys conducted on students, it was
estimated that they use around 10 batteries per capita in high-income
sectors, and 7 in medium and low ones.
An environmental education pilot plan was
designed and applied to 80 children in 3 socio-economic differentiated
schools where the response was analysed through direct evaluations and
through the participation of teachers. This activity was very successful
in terms of the acceptance by the people involved. A high level of
commitment was observed on the part of children and the teaching staff.
In the educational experience,
participatory educational techniques were applied, including field visits,
talks with specialists and diagnosis of the sectors where the schools are
located.
The teachers of the participating schools
noticed the work became easier and believed it to be of great interest for
the development of contents and the attitude of the students. Teachers and
students showed a clear willingness to continue the collection process and
the thematic development of the battery issue.
The pilot plan shows its applicability to
other schools where the active participation of the beneficiaries must be
considered. In addition, the development of activities outside the
premises and the adaptation in terms of creativity and special situation
of each sector and group, in agreement with the basic principles of
environmental education, should be taken into account.
From the point of view of the participation
of a battery-distributing company, a very positive willingness to
participate in the project was observed as well as the need to go deeper
in the process with private operators along this line of work.
From this experience, the team that
conducted the project proposes the adoption of the following measures:
In terms of the present collection of
batteries, the Municipality of Valparaíso will collect the batteries
deposited in the containers and send them to the competent Deposit.
There is a proposal to organise a meeting
of the political authorities (Mayor, Governors) with a decision capacity
on environmental issues (Regional Environment Commission) and social
stakeholders to address this issue and to look for solutions, including
a community sanitary landfill and/or a regional or inter-regional Toxic
Residue Deposit.
As this is a pilot project, our experience
points to the need of considering the participation of other sectors
interested in the subject and the experience of other countries for the
implementation in other localities and the development of specific
standards.
Posters and leaflets were printed and used
at schools and shops involved in the process, where a good reception on
the part of the public was noticed and a good work instrument was produced
for the children to conduct their campaigns and their visits to the sector
around their schools.
From the point of view of dissemination of
the project, very few dissemination activities were conducted through the
mass media, as it was a focalised experience. However, it is recommendable
that such a campaign is envisaged, noting the sensitivity of the press on
this issue, in order to involve wide social sectors, if the experience is
to be conducted on a community scale.
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