Overview
Recycla Chile S.A. is the first and only E-waste (computers, printers, cell phones, scanners, calculators, etc.) recycling company in Chile, executing a recycling process in an environmentally responsible manner. Mr. Fernando Nilo is the CEO of the company and has 15 years of experience in the field. RECYCLA is a social entrepreneurship activity, based on the Schwab foundation model (a sister organization of the World Economic Forum), and was born from the OCTANTIS Incubator in Santiago de Chile.
The service that RECYCLA offers is based on the fact that assets and electronic remainders present a potentially dangerous situation for the environment and public health. This treatment consists of recycling reusable raw materials, as well as correctly handling the resulting solid remainders (E-scrap).
In the case of recycling, RECYCLA disarms the equipment by extracting and separating the raw materials, so that they can be later transformed and reused. The return of these raw materials to the production chain contributes directly to the preservation of the non renewable natural resources, reusing the materials contained in the obsolete equipment. In the case of strategic asset destruction, RECYCLA guarantees their complete destruction through the use of specialized machines. The materials that cannot feasibly be reused such as batteries or computer screens are treated in a Hazardous Waste Treatment Center, which is certified to treat such materials.
Standardizing recycling processes globally to harvest valuable components in electrical and electronic scrap (E-scrap), extending the life of products and markets for their reuse, and harmonizing world legislative and policy approaches to e-scrap are prime goals of a new global public-private initiative called Solving the E-Waste Problem (StEP). Major high-tech manufacturers, including Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, Dell, Ericsson, Philips CE, Nokia and Cisco Systems, join UN organizations, governmental, NGO and academic institutions, along with recycling / refurbishing companies as charter members of the initiative, officially launched in March 2007.
“There’s more than gold in those mountains of high-tech scrap,” says Ruediger Kuehr of the United Nations University, which hosts the StEP Secretariat in Bonn. “This partnership is committed to salvaging these increasingly precious resources and preventing them from fouling the environment.”
The Company Story
When did your company start operations and what was its driving force?
- Recycla started operations in 2003
Was your company an innovative leader in this field?
- RECYCLA is the first electronic waste (E-waste) recycling company in Latin America.
How long did it take for the company to get recognition?
- 2 years
Were environmental and economic development issues mutually supportive in Chile, or was it difficult to raise environmental awareness?
- It was very difficult, because here in Chile the Environmental legislation and conscience is very weak.
What types of partnerships has the company been able to form and how has it engaged these partners?
- Today we have partnerships with:
- The government: CORFO Innova Chile, Prochile
- NGOs: Casa de la Paz, Prohumana, AcciónRSE, Paternitas, Coartre
- Commerce Chambers: Amcham, Chilean – Swiss C. Ch.
- Sector Associations: ACTI, ICARE
- Other Companies: Kepler Data Recovery
Are there any incentives offered by RECYCLA Chile or more broadly speaking by the government of Chile for companies to recycle?
- No, there are no incentives from the government.RECYCLA issues a Recycling Certificate to the client once all of the of e-waste is treated, certifying that all of the material received went through the complete recycling process (reception, classification, destruction, minimization, exportation) in compliance with all environmental standards.
The Business Model & Processes
The Impact
What types of measurements do you use to measure company success and could you give some examples of such facts & figures?
- We measure our impact through the Triple Bottom Line Model; Social-Environmental-Economic positive and direct impact.
Do you feel that there is a growing motivation on the level of the people in Chile to recycle and that they expect sound environmental practices from companies?
- Yes. Due to Global Warming problem, there is a positive trend towards the environment protection. Consumers are more likely to prefer products from companies who preserve the environment.
How are you exploring possibilities to impact the recycling business on the regional level, or do you do so already?
- First of all we want to have a strong position in Chile. As a second step we have already explored the possibility to export our model to Colombia.
Do you have particular programs that you target the market with?
- We our working based in the B2B model, which is HPàRECYCLA, MATTELàRECYCLA, i.e. we work directly with OEMs and the biggest consumers (companies such as banks, retailers, etc.), we are not still working with final consumers (B2C)
You have had several important public figures supporting your work, how has that helped your business and how do you plan on continuing to maintain such good visibility?
- All these public figures have helped us to build and develop a new industry in Chile; Electronic Waste Recycling. We plan to continue with our innovative spirit in different activities such as the first E-Waste Recycling Book, the annual ceremony: “E-Waste Awards”. In both activities public figures are really interested to support them.
What is the message you want to send to high technology companies that could use your products and services?
- The environmental issue of IT, is a key factor on their business. IT has to consider a sustainable development of their products. The concept “from the cradle to the grave” must be incorporated in this sector in our region.
The Future
What is the ultimate goal and future outlook for RECYCLA Chile and what will it take to achieve that?
- Towards the Bicentenary of Chile (2010) our dream is to reach the 10% of the E-Waste Recycling rate generated in Chile. Today we are recycling the 2%. To achieve this we need support from different Stakeholders, from Government, NGOs, International Funds and Institutions among others.
What are some of the main challenges that you see ahead of you?
- To introduce technology in our Recycling Plant, educate the companies and work towards having the same legislation as the EU and USA.
How does RECYCLA Chile aim to maintain and develop the innovativeness in its solutions?
- To keep the innovativeness we have to keep constantly learning from companies and experiences abroad.
For more information about RECYCLA Chile
http://www.recycla.cl
E-mail: info@recycla.cl, fnilo@recycla.cl
For more information about the StEP Initiative
http://www.step-initiative.org