Reverse Chain for Electronic Waste to Promote Circular Economy in Brazil: A Survey on Electronics Manufacturers and Importers

Abstract

Government requirements for the management of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) by electronics manufacturers and importers has raised some difficulties in structuring the reverse chain of WEEE in Brazil, notably due to the territorial extension of the country. The need to implement circular economy practices (CE) in the reverse chain of WEEE has been acknowledged as a key requirement for sustaining the international competitiveness of Brazilian companies. In this context, this study sets up to evaluate the flows of the reverse chain of WEEE, aiming to promote CE as well as its actions for the recycling, reuse, remanufacturing, and reduction of WEEE in Brazil. The study identifies and characterizes key manufacturing decisions for developing waste management capabilities, including the need for waste management responsibilities for installing and operating the collection points and transporting waste to recyclers. Likewise, the study highlights the relevance of the adoption of strategies for selling recycled materials to the secondary market, along with reusing and reducing the use of virgin materials. Initially, the managerial strategy is based on recycling and remanufacturing actions due to short-term monetary revaluation, in addition to the immediate resolution of the complex problem. It should be noted that the decision to outsource WEEE management does not exempt the manufacturer from reusing and reducing material consumption, an important contribution that must be taken into account in organizational practice, beyond the immediate resolution of the complex problem.

Simulation of Electronic Waste Reverse Chains for the Sao Paulo Circular Economy: An Artificial Intelligence-Based Approach for Economic and Environmental Optimizations

“…It should be noted that, in October 2019, a sectoral agreement was also signed, which aimed at sharing the responsibilities for WEEE management between manufacturers, waste managers, and recyclers in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Oliveira Neto et al [3] mention that electronics manufacturers are responsible for implementing post-consumer WEEE reverse logistics, whereby WEEE circularity through remanufacturing, repair, reuse, recycling, and/or sale to the secondary market is aimed. However, the manufacturers cannot simultaneously carry out production and remanufacturing.…”

“…Thus, it is considered relevant to incorporate the principles of the circular economy in the reverse logistics operations associated with WEEE [4], namely to consider the players in the reverse chains [5] and to establish the circularity of WEEE through remanufacturing, repair, reuse, recycling, and/or sale to the secondary market. This is to be performed [3] in compliance with the regulation of the local policies that are aimed at eliminating the disposal of WEEE in landfill, thus allowing for a reduction in CO 2 in addition to improving the recovery rate, as well as the capacity of the facilities in relation to the total expected profit [6]. By implementing cyclic material flows, it is possible to limit the production flow to levels that nature tolerates, thus respecting its natural reproduction rates [7] and generating system sustainability [8].…”

“…To promote the implementation of the principles of the circular economy in the reverse WEEE chains-one that is stimulated by the mandatory adoption of reverse logistics in Sao Paulo by the electronics sector-it is timely and relevant to conduct studies that can augment the knowledge about how to improve such systems [3]. In this context, it is important to simulate the economic and environmental optimization of the WEEE reverse network (manufacturers, waste managers, collection points, and recyclers in Sao Paulo).…”

Simulation of Electronic Waste Reverse Chain for São Paulo Circular Economy: An Artificial Intelligence-Based Approach for Economic and Environmental Optimization

“…It should be noted that in October 2019 also a sectoral agreement was signed, aiming at sharing responsibilities for WEEE management between manufacturers, waste managers and recyclers in São Paulo, Brazil. Oliveira Neto et al [3] mention that electronics manufacturers are responsible for implementing post-consumer WEEE reverse logistics, aiming at WEEE circularity through remanufacturing, repair, reuse, recycling and/or sale to the secondary market. But the manufacturers do not have the capacity to simultaneously carry out production and remanufacturing.…”

“…Thus, it is considered relevant to incorporate the principles of Circular Economy in the reverse logistics operations associated with WEEE [4], namely to consider the players in the reverse chain [5], and seeking the circularity of WEEE through remanufacturing, repair, reuse, recycling and/or or sale to the secondary market. This is to be done [3] in compliance with the regulation of local policies aimed at eliminating the disposal of WEEE in landfills, allowing the reduction of CO², in addition to improving the recovery rate, capacity of the facilities in relation to the total profit expected [6]. By implementing cyclic material flows it is possible to limit the production flow to levels that nature tolerates, respecting its natural reproduction rates [7], generating system sustainability [8].…”