Analysis of the environmental perception of the population of Maceió/AL in relation to the reverse logistics of electronic waste

Abstract

An accelerated electronic equipment obsolescence has emerged as an increasingly significant environmental problem, since it generates the need for proper disposal as recommended by the reverse logistics chain procedures for reuse in the production cycle. Reverse logistics has been the target of public policies at different government levels. In Alagoas State, Brazil, the current context is marked by the formulation and consolidation of e-waste laws and plans for disposal of electronic products according to national policy. This research aimed to analyze the electronic waste reverse logistics based on population´s environmental perception in Maceió City, Brazil. In its research design, the study combined a survey with 357 respondents to measure the electronic waste problem, confronting it with an environmental-licensed company manager´s perspective. The main results showed that smartphones was the most purchased equipment (91.27%) and, consequently, the most discarded (43.38%); a considerable number of people are not yet in the habit of discarding electronic waste (32.68%); 48.60% claimed to partially know the electronic waste term, but do not know what it is about; after purchasing new equipment, 40.28% declared donating the old one and 67.70% said they were unaware of municipal recyclable e-waste collectors existence. However, in the interviewed manager´s perspective, the population's level of awareness has been increasing in line with the demand for waste collection by your company. It was possible to conclude that the still incipient structure of municipal electronics reverse chain provides a random and inadequate disposal scenario for population, on the contrary to what determines the legal e-waste municipal provisions in force since 2015.