Nilo Fernando
Organization: RECYCLA Chile
Year Founded: 2003
Country: Chile
Website: www.recycla.cl
RECYCLA Chile established a system to recycle electronic appliances in an environmentally-sound way while employing former inmates who seek to reintegrate into the workplace and society. Focus: Environment, Electronic and Electric Waste Management Geographic Area of Impact: Chile Model: Social Business Number of Direct Beneficiaries: 25 (2009) Annual Budget: US$ 1.3 million (2008) Percentage Earned Revenue: 12% Recognition: Schwab Fellow of the World Economic Forum, SEOY 2007 Chile Background The rapid pace of technological change in the field of electronics has made appliances for homes and office equipment both affordable and widely used. Extreme growth and the ever increasing obsolescence rates of technology result in large quantities of electrical and electronic equipment being added to the waste stream. E-waste includes computers, entertainment electronics, telecommunication equipment, cooling appliances and others that are discarded. While technical solutions to recycling e-waste are available, in most cases a legal framework, collection system, logistics and other services need to be implemented before the technical solution can be applied. Electronic waste represents 2% of America's trash in landfills, but it equals 70% of overall toxic waste. This waste is of concern largely due to the toxicity and carcinogenicity of some of the substances, which includes lead, mercury, cadmium and PCBs. A typical computer monitor may contain more than 6% lead by weight. Innovation and Activities RECYCLA Chile was the first company in Latin America to recycle electronic waste, such as computers, televisions, mobile phones, fax machines and scanners. These items have become indispensable modern technologies, but when they have outlived their usefulness they become highly toxic for the environment unless properly discarded. Today, more than 98% of Chileans have a mobile phone. With an average lifespan of less than two years, what happens when their owners dispose of them? RECYCLA disarms 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 non-renewable natural resources. The company has embarked on a massive campaign to raise awareness on the need to recycle e-waste. This includes influencing public policy and working with Chile’s environment ministry to address the situation. From the beginning, RECYCLA has implemented a triple bottom line business model, creating social, economic and environmental value. It has entered into agreements with social organizations working to bridge the digital gap in a sustainable way, making sure that once donated equipment has reached the end of its lifespan, it will be properly recycled. RECYCLA created the first Green Seal in Latin America, and has established a system whereby the personnel at RECYCLA that dismantle the electronic appliances and consolidate the parts for export are former inmates who seek to reintegrate into the workplace and society. The Entrepreneur Fernando Nilo had a tough time launching RECYCLA. He faced social indifference to a mounting problem and no money to start the venture. With a family to support, he returned to university and perfected his business plan while working at night to earn an income. In 2008, RECYCLA was internationally recognized with the Energy Globe Award and the Dubai International Award for Best Practices. In 2009, Fernando was selected by the World Economic Forum as a Technology Pioneer in the environmental technology category.
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