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ECOGuard

ECOGuard comes from a strong and sincere desire: to intervene on the vulnerabilities that are often found along the recycling production chain. Inefficiency of the controls, eco mafia, crime, cannibalization, dispersion of toxic substances... these are just a few examples of possible risks.

Creating a network of excellence in the waste management which was able to take preventive actions represented the ultimate goal.

IN THE BEGINNING IT WAS JUST AN IDEA, A DREAM.

A goal like that, though, is not easy to achieve. But thanks to the many years of activities, best practices, expertise and excellent partners, Ecoped succeded in implementing a thorough study of the system. The next step was the development of a concrete project that led to the creation of a prevention and control model that, thanks to the development of traceability management systems, guarantees now the preservation and efficient use of natural resources and enables members and the market to reintroduce them into new production cycles.

This is ECOGuard. A passion for transparency based on the research of essential skills and technologies, relying only on qualified suppliers. Innovation and knowledge-sharing are the performance indicators in order to progressively reduce risks in the daily management of waste.

ECOGuard does not only mean quality of recycling, but above all is complete safety for citizens, reduction of the environmental impact and continuous raising of the quality standards of the service offered. Traceability in the the first place, to be able to know where our garbage actually end up, so to avoid risks, sqaundering and irregularities. That's why each stage of the management such as transport, storage, treatment (selective and final), are strictly monitored.

ECOGuard is unique because is able to intervene where the system fails. The reality of waste management, in fact, is not always easy (or happy). When talking about WEEE, we always have to face cannibalization, theft and the ineffectiveness of the controls. Thousands of tons of electrical and electronic waste transit each year outsite Italy: this transit is often illegal and done without the right recycling operations.

Far East, Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria. Against any prohibition, it is in those countries that end a large amount of this type of waste, in the attempt to extract copper and other precious metals. Non compliant landfills, abandoned mines or locations that look like science-fictions movie set. In those places, where controls stop, illegality proliferates.

To recover copper (in order to resell it) old electrical appliances are incinerated in the open air, acids are used and the resulting waste is handled with bare hands. Waste releases lead, mercury and other toxic substances rich in polluting toxins for the environment (soil, air, water) and man.

Unfortunately, children are those who pay the highest price, as they are used by WEEE traffickers as illegal workers.

Ecoped believes that the function of the consortium should be to keep the whole supply chain under control, addressing the materials to the selective treatment plants, where plastics, metals etc are extracted from the electric waste.

For this reason Ecoped has decided to implement a survey on issues related to waste management, with particular reference to the traceability, composting, waste collection and the actual destination of the recovery and reuse or their portions. The follow up of this study is a concrete project that now takes the name of ECOGuard.

Another problem related to improper recycling of WEEE is that so forth and so on necessary materials as gallium, indium or germanium (basic elements for the production of electrical and electronic equipment) will no longer be available and 5 planets Earth won’t be enough to have what we need.

With these premises and therefore from these hazards – from the gradual depletion of natural resources to the vulnerability of the supply chain systems, extremely exposed to illicit - and from the need to convince people that electrical waste must be well recycled, an extended control throughout the supply chain was indeed indispensable. Therefore, ECOGuard was born from the necessity of absolute transparencyECOGuard.

THREE GOALS:

minimize the dispersion of components and substances of dangerous products

maximize recycling

ensure that all these operations are conducted following the ethical logic and that pay attention to the safety of workers

Ecoped knows that the future is a resource that must be protected and they are committed to do it every day, thanks to ECOGuard.

A dream came true, available to everyone.

Learn more about ECOGuard.