Abstract
The advancement of technology and development of new electronic and electrical equipment with a reduced life cycle has increased the need for the disposal of them (called Waste of Electric and Electronic Equipment or simply e-waste) due to defects presented during use, replacement of obsolete equipment, and ease of acquisition of new equipment. There is a lack of consumer awareness regarding the use, handling storage, and disposal of this equipment. In Brazil, the disposal of post-consumer waste is regulated by the National Solid Waste Policy, established by Law No. 12305 and regulated on the 23rd December 2010. Under this legislation, manufacturers and importers are required to perform a project for the Reverse Logistics of e-waste, though its implementation is not well defined. This work focuses on the verification of the sustainability of reverse logistics suggested by the legislation and the mandatory points, evaluating its costs and the possible financial gain with recycling of the waste. The management of reverse logistics and recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment, or simply recycling of e-waste, as suggested by the government, will be the responsibility of the managing organization to be formed by the manufacturers/importers in Brazil.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Almeida CMVB et al (2016) Cleaner production towards a sustainable transition. J Clean Prod 112:1
Araújo MG, Magrini A, Mahler CF, Bilitewski B (2012) A model for estimation of potential generation of waste electrical and electronic equipment in Brazil. Waste Manag 32:335–342
Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) (2010) Population count 2010. Avaiable at: <http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/populacao/contagem2007/contagemfinal/tabela1119.pdf>. Accessed 11 May 2016 (in Portuguese)
Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) (2011) Indicators of sustainable development Brazil. Avaiable at: <http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/geociencias/Recursosnaturais/ids/default_2010.shtm>. Accessed 03 June 2015 (in Portuguese)
Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) (2016) Geosciences: projection of the population 2016. Avaiable at: <http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/populacao>. Accessed 7 July 2017 (in Portuguese)
Central of Costs and Prices of Truck Drivers (CCPC) (2015) Available at: <http://www.guiadotrc.com.br/>. Accessed Feb 2016 (in Portuguese)
Corrêa HL, Xavier LH (2013) Concepts, design and implementation of Reverse Logistics Systems for sustainable supply chains in Brazil. JOSCM: J Oper Supply Chain Manag 6(1):1
Cucchiella F et al (2015) Recycling of WEEEs: An economic assessment of present and future e-waste streams. Renew Sust Energ Rev 51:263–272
Cui J, Forssberg E (2003) Mechanical recycling of waste electric and electronic equipment: a review. J Hazard Mater 99(3):243–263
de Oliveira CR, Bernardes AM, Gerbase AE (2012) Collection and recycling of electronic scrap: a worldwide overview and comparison with the Brazilian situation. Waste Manag 32(8):1592–1610
de Oliveira CR, Bernardes AM, de Souza RG et al (2016) Sustainability assessment and prioritisation of e-waste management options in Brazil. Waste Manag. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2016.01.034
Espinosa DCR, Tenório JAS (2006) Recycling of nickel–cadmium batteries using coal as reducing agent. J Power Sources 157(1):600–604
Georgiadis P, Besiou M (2008) Sustainability in electrical and electronic equipment closed-loop supply chains: A System Dynamics approach. J Clean Prod 16(15):1665–1678
Herat S (2007) Sustainable management of electronic waste (e-waste). Clean Soil Air Water 35:305–310. https://doi.org/10.1002/clen.200700022
INVENTTA (2014) Reverse logistics of electrical and electronic equipment, technical and economic feasibility analysis, Brazil (in Portuguese). Available at http://www.mdic.gov.br/arquivos/dwnl_1416934886.pdf. Accessed 21 Aug 2017
Keramitsoglou KM, Tsagarakis KP (2013) Public participation in designing a recycling scheme towards maximum public acceptance. Resour Conserv Recycl 70:55–67
Ministry of the Environment (2010) Law 12,305. Establishes the national solid waste policy (in Portuguese). Ministry of Environment, Brazil
Ministry of the Environment (2013) Call for the elaboration of a sectoral agreement for the implementation of a reverse logistics system for electrical and electronic products and their components—notice 01/2013 (in Portuguese). Ministry of the Environment, Brazil
Nnorom IC, Osibanjo O (2008) Overview of electronic waste (e-waste) management practices and legislations, and their poor applications in the developing countries. Resour Conserv Recycl 52(6):843–858
Sarkis J, Helms MM, Hervani AA (2010) Reverse logistics and social sustainability. Corp Soc Responsib Environ Manag 17(6):337–354
Schluep M, Hagelueken C, Kuehr R, Magalini F, Maurer C, Meskers C, Mueller E, Wang F (2015) Sustainable innovation and technology transfer industrial sector studies. Recycling from e-waste to resources. United Nations Environment Programme and United Nations University, p. 120
SINCTRONICS Ltd (2015) Available at http://www.sinctronics.com.br. Accessed 17 Mar 2015 (in Portuguese)
Souza RG, Rosenhead J, Salhofer SP, Valle RAB, Lins MPE (2015) Definition of sustainability impact categories based on stakeholder perspectives. J Clean Prod 105:41–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.09.051
State Foundation of the Environment (FEAM) (2009) Diagnosis of the generation of electrical and electronic waste in Minas Gerais, Brazil (in Portuguese). Available at: <http://www.mma.gov.br/port/conama/processos/.../DiagGer_REE_MG_FEAM_EMPA.pdf>. Accessed 12 Apr 2015
The World Bank (2012) Wasting no opportunity: the case for managing Brazil’s electronic waste. Washington, DC, USA
Tsydenova O, Bengtsson M (2011) Chemical hazards associated with treatment of waste electrical and electronic equipment. Waste Manag 31:45–58
UMICORE (2015) Welcome to UMICORE Basil. Presentation available at: http://www.umicore.com.br. Accessed 4 Apr 2015 (in Portuguese)
US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) (2014) Wastes—resource conservation—common wastes & materials—eCycling. Available at: <http:///waste/conserve/materials/ecycling/index.htm>. Accessed 4 Apr 2015
Wang F et al (2012) The Best-of-2-Worlds philosophy: developing local dismantling and global infrastructure network for sustainable e-waste treatment in emerging economies. Waste Manag 32(11):2134–2146
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Azevedo, L.P., da Silva Araújo, F.G., Lagarinhos, C.A.F. et al. E-waste management and sustainability: a case study in Brazil. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 25221–25232 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0099-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0099-7