The Reverse Logistics operation of solid waste pos-consumption of electronic products for domestic use in Brazil

Alós, Jandir dos Santos; Milan, Gabriel Sperandio; Eberle, Luciene

doi:10.5902/1983465974238

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Original Article • Rev. Adm. UFSM 16 (3) • 2023 • https://doi.org/10.5902/1983465974238 copy

The Reverse Logistics operation of solid waste pos-consumption of electronic products for domestic use in Brazil

A operação de logística reversa de resíduos sólidos pós-consumo de produtos eletrônicos de uso doméstico no Brasil

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

ABSTRACT

Purpose:

The general objective of this research is to present a framework aimed at structuring the operation of the RLS – Reverse Logistics System in the context of the post-consumer solid waste of products electrical and electronics segment in Brazil.

Design/Methodology/Approach:

Exploratory research qualitative, operationalized through individual interviews with a semi-structured approach, with fourteen respondents, in addition to documentary research.

Findings:

The cost for the operation of this structure must also be treated as a critical point for the success of this system, mainly due to the lack of a vision focused on the circular economy of EEE – Electrical Equipment and Electronics.

Implications for theory and practice:

The study addressed some research gaps in relation to postconsumer reverse logistics. Regarding practical implementations, the development of a framework for the operacionalization of RLS stands out, and the evidence of this research concerns the lack of alignment, on the part of manufacturers and importers on issues related to EEE reverse logistics issues.

Originality/Value:

An emphasis on an advanced view of how to treat the solid waste consumer electronics segment (EEE) in Brazil.

Keywords:
Operations management; Reverse logistics; Post-consumer electronic equipment waste; Waste reduction

Universidade Federal de Santa Maria Avenida Roraima nº 1000, Prédio 74C, Sala 4210 - Cidade Universitária - Centro de Ciências Sociais e Humanas (CCSH) - Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Cep: 97105-900, Tel: +55 (55) 3220-9242 - Santa Maria - RS - Brazil
E-mail: rea@ufsm.br

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[1] E-mail:
jandirsalos@gmail.com

Interviewers	Age	Line of Work	Company Time (years)	Position	Segment
A	36	Manufactures Association	6	Sustainability Manager	Reverse Logistics of EEE
B	45	Non-governmental Organizations	10	Director	Solid Waste
C	43	Research, Development and Analysis Institute	3	Environmental Manager	EEE Waste
D	35	Logistics and Reverse Manufacturing	10	Strategic Project Manager in Circular Economy	EEE Waste
E	45	Logistics and Reverse Manufacturing	18	Chief Executive Officer	EEE Waste
F	31	Environmental Public Agency	7	Environmental Engineer	Solid Waste
G	40	Manufactures Association	4	Executive Manager	Reverse Logistics of EEE
H	53	Manufacturing	4	Corporate After-Sales Manager	Electronics in General
I	49	Logistics and Reverse Manufacturing	5	Vice President of Business Development	EEE Waste
J	53	Institute of Social and Environmental Communication	20	Chief Executive Officer	Solid Waste
K	42	Social and Environmental Research Institute	1	Chairman	Urban Public Policies
L	50	Manufacturing	20	Sustainability Coordinator	Electronics in General
M	27	Manufacturing	5	Environmental Engineer	Electronics in General
N	39	Manufacturing	9	Environmental Engineer	Electronics in General

Identified Motivations	Interviewees
National Solid Waste Policy	B, C, D, F, G, I, K, L and N
International Laws	A, B, H, J and N
Environment	B, E, D and N
National Scenario of RLS Structuring in Other Segments	C and L
Circular Economy	C and D
Political Scenario	M

Identified Actors	Roles to be Performed
Federal Government	Control the implementation of Decree Nº 10.240/20, as a regulatory agent; Create public policies to facilitate the implementation of the RLS; and Inform society and effectively participate in formal environmental education for consumers.
City Halls	Participate in campaigns in partnership with the Management Entities, aiming at the collection of EEE, mainly with regard to the communication of this system (RLS); and Enable medium and long-term agreements with the Managing Entities, providing a structure (ecopoints, collections, etc.), in addition to inserting an effective EEE screening system into the current flow of selective collection.
Manufacturers and Importers	Participate as associates in the collective RLS, aiming at its sustainability and compliance with the goals established for the sector; Communicate to its consumers about the RLS, indicating the correct destination flow for their products, in the post-consumption period; Develop products that aim to facilitate your repair, upgrade or reverse manufacturing process; and Incorporate recycled raw materials into its production cycle and those of its suppliers.
Distributors and Merchants	Provide physical space for installing EEE reception points, as well as forwarding them to the RLS flow; Inform your business partners and consumers about the existing EEE RLS; and Make reverse logistics feasible, through the consolidation of EEE, aiming to reduce costs with their transport.
Managing Entities	Search for new members, working in partnership with the government, in the creation of public policies to make the RLS viable; Structuring, implementing and managing the RLS operation; Define, together with its members, the non-formal communication strategies of the RLS to those involved; and Develop partnerships with other actors, especially city halls, reverse manufacturing companies and waste picker cooperatives.
Reverse Manufacturing	Develop processes for better use of WEEE, aiming at circular economy and waste reduction; Increase your efficiency in EEE disassembly operations; and Ensure the control of the processing flow and destination of WEEE, aiming to report the correct values to the Managing Entities, corresponding to the RLS (by weight).
Carriers	Carry out the correct transport of EEE and WEEE; and Participate in the development of strategies and actions, aimed at reducing costs with the operationalization of transporting these materials, within the RLS.
Recyclers	Transforming WEEE into recycled raw materials; Increase its scope of action, covering all types of materials, aiming to reduce costs with the export of WEEE; and Develop effective processes, as well as their structure in terms of equipment, for the recycling of WEEE.
Collectors Cooperatives	Structure its activities within the minimum operating requirements, for its effective participation in the RLS; and Seek partnerships, either with industry or commerce, but mainly with Managing Entities, aiming at the environmentally correct disposal of collected EEE.
Consumers	Return the equipment (products) used at the appropriate delivery points, established in the system (RLS); Segregate, store, remove data or private information stored in EEE and dispose of these products and/or their waste at the indicated collection points; and Be aware of your role within this context, especially not discarding EEE in the common garbage.

Difficulty Groups	Difficulties Identified	Interviewees
Structural	Lack of consumer engagement.	A, D, E, F, H, I, J, K and N
	RLS forms of communication.	B, C, E, F, H and K
	Performance of collectors’ cooperatives, technical assistance and the cannibalization of products.	C, D, L, M and N
	Installation of 5,000 delivery points (receipt or collection) of WEEE.	B, D, G, J and N
	Lack of structured recyclers and the complexity of WEEE.	A, C and K
Financial	High cost of an RLS.	A, C, D, E and J
Policies	Lack of education of the Brazilian population in relation to social and environmental issues.	I, J, K, L and M
	Lack of government incentives with tax reduction/exemption.	H, J, K and M
	Vision aimed at the circular economy.	D, K, L and M
	Covid-19 pandemic and its impacts on society and the economy.	C, F, J and K
	Participation of city halls in an RLS.	E, F and J
	Greater participation of the retail sector.	H, M and N

Proposed Directions	Description of Directions
Use of Technologies	The first great ally of this RLS is the use of technologies, which in addition to reducing costs, may create a data system that will allow to identify and map the WEEE flow, generating reliability in the collected data. These technologies range from the use of smart collectors or VDPs, which through sensors can trigger a collection action, to the reading of a QR Code printed on EEE, informing the nearest disposal points or how to proceed with their disposal in an environmentally correct manner.
Incentives to Consumers	Consumers should be encouraged to dispose of their EEE, not only motivated by environmental and sustainability issues, but also by actions that can provide incentives to this movement. In this way, manufacturers, importers and MEs need to establish programs of benefits to customers and/or consumers, when exchanging their old products for new products of the same brand. Retail should use this RLS to increase the flow of customers and/or consumers in their stores, aiming to sell new products, at the time they are discarding their EEEs in VDPs. The government should stimulate the economy through energy efficiency programs, granting discounts for new products, mainly for the classes with low purchasing power.
Communication Plan	National consumer communication campaigns should be widely publicized, with strong appeal, either at the initiative of the government (Federal, State and Municipal), or at the initiative of industry and importers, through partnerships with their MEs, so that they can clarify and encourage the correct disposal of EEEs, showing that there is a way to do the right thing. It should also be evaluated, after the completion of this first five-year cycle, the application of penalties to consumers who fail to comply with the correct disposal of their EEEs.
Proposed Directions	Description of Directions
Participation of Importers and the Use of Recyclable Raw Materials	Regarding the RLS financial sustainability issues, it is necessary that the Federal Government, through the MOTE – Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Economy, immediately implants EEE importation control, aiming to ensure the isonomy of this system, in which importers must prove their participation in some RLS, so that they can receive their import licenses. In addition, another important step would be the government establishing the use of recycled raw materials in the manufacture of new products, setting gradual targets, with the intention of fostering the circular economy.
City halls and Schools	The MEs and municipal municipalities should continue strengthening their partnership and creating operational strategies, either through campaigns or through the screening of EEEs from the collection of USWs. It would also be appropriate to involve society and even create a new Generation through the development of programs aimed at schools and actions such as recreational competitions, which are an excellent channel for receiving EEEs. Finally, another initiative aimed at boosting this flow could be the establishment of specific days for the collection of these EEEs, so that the selective collection of recycled materials could take place, as already carried out in some locations.
Projects to Encourage Recycling	Waste picker cooperatives, which need to be approved by MEs. In this context, two bills are awaiting approval of the Senate: Bill 7535 from 2017, which has incentives to promote the recycling industry, creating a fund to support actions aimed at recycling and an investment fund for recycling projects, and PL 3592 from 2019, which grants tax credit to legal entities that acquire scrap or other waste for the manufacture of new products.