2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 507 - Puerto Rico Electronics Recycling and Disposal Promotion Act (§§ 8151 — 8162) › § 8157a - Authorities and duties—Solid Waste Management Authority

(a) The Authority shall be responsible for coordinating with the Board the implementation of this chapter.
(b) Shall provide that all private business with eleven (11) or more employees shall file, in an annual report rendered pursuant to their regulations, proof of the mechanisms employed to recycle, reuse or refurbish electronic or telephone equipment.
(c) Shall establish an educational program to provide orientation on the importance of the proper disposal of electronic equipment and coordinate its implementation with the Board.
(d) Shall raise awareness about the reduction of electronic waste and promote the refurbishment and reuse of disposed, but still in working order, electronic equipment in Puerto Rico. It shall also establish an effective coordination with those that refurbish and use refurbished equipment.
(e) Shall compare the information contained in the manifests of the Environmental Quality Board with the information contained in the recycling and disposal plan of manufacturers, importers, and distributors, so as to determine compliance thereof.
(f) Shall conduct a market characterization study of electronic waste in Puerto Rico and shall prepare a general strategy to manage electronic and cellular telephone equipment, and cathode-ray tubes, all of which shall be carried out in coordination with registered manufacturers, importers, and distributors, as well as processors and collectors.
(g) Shall provide assistance in technical matters as well as in transacting financial aids for any person that establishes by requirement of this chapter or in his/her own initiative, whether for profit or not, a collection center or a transportation, recycling or disposal facility for disposed, discarded, obsolete or useless electronic equipment, and shall promote the good use and operation thereof. Provided, That, any assistance shall require:
(1) A certification that the equipment recovered by collectors was received from consumers or business within the jurisdiction of Puerto Rico.
(2) In the case of collectors or transporters, a certification that there is a demand from recycling or disposal processors to be able to absorb the volume of materials to be collected.
(3) In the case of recycled products or raw materials collected by processors, a certification that there is a market demand independent from the Government of Puerto Rico, its municipalities or public corporations.
(4) A certification that the final destination of the products complies with the provisions of this chapter, the Enabling Act of the Authority, and the Environmental Public Policy Act.
(h) Shall file, together with the Board, an annual report with the Legislative Assembly on the implementation of this chapter. The Authority shall establish the proper guidelines to ensure that this report includes the necessary data that would allow for the assessment of the progress of the public policy set forth in this chapter.
(i) Shall establish, promote, and advertise a program to recognize such trades or entities, whether for profit or not, which are certified pursuant to this chapter and that serve as example of compliance with these objectives.
History —Jan. 17, 2012, No. 18, § 8.02, eff. 120 days after Jan. 17, 2012.