Ecoeficiência e desafios de integração entre agentes corresponsáveis pelo tratamento de resíduos eletroeletrônicos (REEE): um estudo multicasos no Triângulo Mineiro

Abstract

Aspects such as comfort, practicality, speed and connectivity have led members of urbanized societies to consume electronic equipment exponentially. Previous researches point to socio-environmental and economic issues related to the incorrect disposal process of this kind of equipment when they achieve end-of-life. As they contain toxic substances and components with high added value, these residues are considered, simultaneously, business opportunities and cause of serious problems. This paper sought to address three theoretical gaps found in publications on electronic waste management between the years 2000 and 2018. The general objective outlined was to identify the perspective of the managers of WEEE treatment organizations on which factors could contribute to the strengthening of the formal sector in the the Triângulo Mineiro region and its surroundings. More specifically, the objective was to consolidate regional information on the sector and its production, to analyze the eco-efficiency of operational practices and processes (internal factors) and to understand the interrelationship between the different agents responsible for the management of WEEE –government, manufacturers, retailers and consumers (external factors). Therefore, as for its nature, this research is classified as applied and exploratory and, as for methodological procedures, it is classified as a multicases study with a mixed approach. Based on the theoretical foundation, two categories of analysis were defined for internal factors and two for external factors, namely, respectively: sustainable management, pragmatic management, isolated performance and integrated performance with agents. An investigation into the field of research based on secondary data (document research) and primary data (observation, managers interviews and application of the CE7 eco-efficiency framework designed by Munck et al.) was carried out. As a result, we found that the four organizations interviewed presented a Sustainable Management (SM) in terms of practices and operational processes, that is, they were sufficiently coherent with the competencies to support eco-efficiency. On the other hand, a regional scenario was envisaged in which the isolation of the co-responsible agents for the management of WEEE predominates, thus weakening the principle of “extended responsibility” on which the National Solid Waste Policy is based. In other words, the managers' speeches were more marked by criticism of the agents –more notably the government –than by reports of integration, or of networking or mentions of shared gains. Several other challenges to integration emerged in the interviews, however, on an embryonic basis. Such elements are related to culture, education, logistics, media and financial infeasibility and need further studies. Other limits of this work are presented in order to encourage future studies on the WEEE topic, however, the author understands that this research innovates by bringing the theme of WEEE to the management study area, by shedding light on the formal treatment sector of electronic waste as an object of study and by bringing visibility to the Triângulo Mineiro region in the scope of sustainability research.