E-Waste Mistakenly Disposed of as Recyclable Waste: A Case Study from Brazil

High e-waste production has become a growing worldwide challenge in waste management. Several studies show negative consequences for the environment and public health from improper e-waste management. In this context, this paper presents a characterization of e-waste sent to recyclable waste picker cooperatives in a Brazilian city. E-waste is mistakenly disposed of by the population as common recyclable waste and collected through special selective collection programs. The research also evaluated aspects related to the risks and opportunities inherent to e-waste handling by cooperatives. The results showed that i) the population very often discards e-waste along with common recyclable waste; ii) cooperative members unsafely dismantle e-waste for resale, because the profitability of these materials is much higher than that of ordinary recyclables; and iii) the municipality must make the population aware of the separation and disposal of e-waste. More than just a challenge for managers, proper e-waste management is a market with high environmental and economic potential, both negative and positive, and complete knowledge and mastery of it will show what will prevail. The results of this research may support a proposal for continuous monitoring and analysis of the flow of e-waste to better manage this type of waste.