Electronic waste management: a study on computer firms in São Miguel Do Oeste – SC

Abstract

The growing concern about the uncontrolled consumption of solid waste in Brazil and the world, challenges managers from various areas by the width of its consequences, whether economic or social. Demonstrating this concern, our country created Law No.12305 establishing the National Policy on Solid Waste. The growth of electronic waste is due to the technological advances of recent years. Significantly the increase in quantity and diversity of the equipment has the effect on population of disposing of their equipment more frequently, and, therefore, this equipment becoming obsolete sooner. These residues represent a significant percentage today in the trash discarded into the environment. In turn, the electronic waste is considered hazardous due to its composition of, mainly, heavy metals, causing serious risks to human health. Considering this issue, the present study aim at verifying how the computer companies, registered in the Chamber of Shopkeepers (CDL) and Industrial and Commercial Association of São Miguel do Oeste (ACISMO), manage their electronic waste and identify appropriate tools and techniques of environmental management used and finally verify the degree of awareness of society about the role of organizations towards their responsibility to properly allocate electronic waste.