SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF ELECTRONIC WASTE IN JUAZEIRO DO NORTE/CE: A CASE STUDY FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

The continuous advancement of technologies and the consequent intensification of the consumption of electronic products have brought new challenges to urban environmental management, especially regarding the disposal of electronic waste (WEEE). This waste, resulting from the rapid obsolescence and frequent replacement of technological equipment, contains chemical substances and heavy metals with high polluting potential. This work analyzes the WEEE management scenario in the municipality of Juazeiro do Norte, Ceará, highlighting the influence of consumer behavior, business activity, and the effectiveness of local public policies in the pursuit of sustainable development. The research adopted a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative methods, with the application of questionnaires to the population and interviews with public and business managers. It was found that, although 94% of the local population is aware of the risks associated with the improper disposal of this waste, approximately 61% still dispose of it in regular trash. It was also found that reverse logistics—a legal and environmentally strategic instrument—is applied in an incipient way by companies and encounters operational and structural obstacles. It is concluded that progress towards sustainability depends on effective integration among social actors, more robust municipal policies, and a consolidated environmental culture.