MACEDO FILHO, Rubens Venâncio de.
Abstract:
Electronic waste or “e-waste” is part of everything that comes from electronics such as cell
phones, computers, televisions, appliances, among others. Acquisition and fast disposal of these
is being increasingly frequent, particularly in developed and developing countries, where
economic power and development of the technology industry allows greater access to these
products. This waste, when improperly discarded, can pose health and environmental risks.
Components of these products are often loaded with contaminating materials such as lead,
mercuryand cadmium that, in contact with soil and rivers, can be harmful to the environment and
human health. An alternative to lessen negative impacts of “e-waste” may depend on recycling,
given the economic potential of some discarded materials. In Brazil recycling of that type of
material is present in only few centers. We lack laws, benefits and technology to implement the
process of reverse logistics wich depends on waste sorting, recycling, among others. In Cuité city,
PB, there is no waste sorting. Technical assistance working with electronics has an even greater
predisposition for the accumulation of these materials and in the city of Cuité is no different.
Those who do not dispose of these products in ordinary waste store the equipment indefinitely
without much perspective on how to properly dispose of such waste. This difficults picking and
correctly disposing these materials, as well as it's reinsertion in the industry. However, it is in
progress at the city council bill No. 542 of November 11, 2019, which institutes the program of
electronic and techonological waste sorting in urban and rural areas of the city, which shows be a
plus for starting policies that regulate and give proper handling to these materials.
