Material Characterization and Sustainable Management of End-of-Life Meteorological Sensors as a Specialized WEEE Stream

The expansion of climate monitoring networks has generated an increasing accumulation of end-of-life meteorological sensors, creating a specialized stream of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) that remains largely unaddressed in developing countries. This study presents a material characterization and sustainable management framework for obsolete meteorological sensors installed in automatic weather stations in Ecuador. A hybrid methodological approach was applied, combining field inventory of 16 stations, gravimetric measurements, and analysis of manufacturer technical specifications to estimate material composition and recovery potential. Results show that 65–90% of the total sensor mass consists of recyclable materials, including aluminum, stainless steel, copper, glass, and engineering polymers. A smaller fraction contains components requiring controlled management due to the potential presence of hazardous additives, such as PVC (polyvinyl chloride) elements and electronic microdevices. Based on these findings, a multi-phase management protocol is proposed, incorporating selective disassembly, material segregation, traceability mechanisms, and processing under extended producer responsibility principles. The framework supports circular economy strategies and offers a replicable model for improving sustainability in climate monitoring infrastructure and specialized WEEE management in low- and middle-income countries.