Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Management and Consequences for Sustainability: The Disposal Practices of Organizational Users

This study aimed to analyze the main environmental, social and economic management of organizational practices arising from Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). The methodology applied was a multiple case study conductedin three large organizations in the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre (RS), two public and one private. Data were collected through direct observation and semi-structured interviews with the managers of these organizations. The results show that compared to public institutions investigated the allocation of WEEE takes a focus on economic gain from the sale at auction, but the process has serious flaws as not having a real guarantee on the real target and the actual environmental and social consequences generated by these residues. Regarding the private institution, this is driven by gains in image and compliance with laws, yet is the only one that applies a proper disposal of these wastes. It was also observed that the decision about which department should manage the WEEE is fundamental for defining the consequences for the sustainability of these practices. Finally, it is observed that the management of WEEE is still early and that much remains to be done to make this process efficient and sustainable. Key words: Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment, E-Waste, Reverse Logistics; Waste Management; Sustainability Management.