How to dispose of e-waste?
Table of Contents
The growth in the number of electronic products in homes and offices, there is increasing concern about what to do with them when they are no longer needed. But, with an eye on nature, it is necessary to understand that our role, as a conscious consumer, also involves finding the correct place to dispose of this waste. electronic waste. Nowadays, many companies, operators, municipalities, and cooperatives already collect or provide spaces for proper disposal. See suggestions and alternatives for dispose of electronic waste:
What is e-waste?
Electronic waste is any type of discarded electrical or electronic equipment, whether because it is broken, obsolete, or has been replaced. This type of waste may contain toxic substances (such as lead, mercury and cadmium), which harm the environment and human health if disposed of incorrectly.
Examples of e-waste include:
- Old cell phones, tablets and smartphones
- Electronic watches and smartwatches
- Video game consoles
- Desktop computers, notebooks and spare parts (HD, motherboard, RAM, etc.)
- Televisions, monitors and radios
- Printers and Scanners
- Batteries and rechargeable cells
- Chargers, cables and power supplies
- Home appliances (microwaves, stoves, refrigerators, blenders, fans)
- Air conditioners and heaters
- Printers, ink cartridges and toners
- Old cameras and video cameras
What does the law say about electronics disposal?
Since 2010 the National Solid Waste Policy (also known as PNRS) obliges device manufacturers to carry out reverse logistics for everything they produce and sell. Simply put: if companies put electronics on the market, they also need to offer channels/places for customers to return products that no longer work. A PNRS It has 15 foci:
- Protection of public health and environmental quality;
- Non-generation, reduction, reuse, recycling and treatment of solid waste, as well as environmentally appropriate final disposal of waste;
- Encouraging the adoption of sustainable patterns of production and consumption of goods and services;
- Adoption, development and improvement of clean technologies as a way to minimize environmental impacts;
- Reduction in the volume and danger of hazardous waste;
- Incentive to the recycling industry, with a view to encouraging the use of raw materials and inputs derived from recyclable and recycled materials;
- Integrated solid waste management;
- Articulation between the different spheres of public power, and between these and the business sector, with a view to technical and financial cooperation for the integrated management of solid waste;
- Continued technical training in the area of solid waste;
- Regularity, continuity, functionality and universalization of the provision of public urban cleaning and solid waste management services, with the adoption of managerial and economic mechanisms that ensure the recovery of the costs of the services provided, as a way of guaranteeing their operational and financial sustainability, observed Law No. 11.445 of 2007;
- Priority, in government acquisitions and contracting, for recycled and recyclable products, goods, services and works that consider criteria compatible with socially and environmentally sustainable consumption standards;
- Integration of collectors of reusable and recyclable materials in actions involving shared responsibility for the life cycle of products;
- Encouraging the implementation of product life cycle assessment;
- Encouraging the development of environmental and business management systems aimed at improving production processes and the reuse of solid waste, including energy recovery and use;
- Encouraging environmental labeling and sustainable consumption.
Generally speaking, this is the law passed to prevent companies from being held accountable for putting so many products on the market. Because the greater the number of incorrect discards, the greater the chance of nature being affected in the future.
Where and how to recycle your electronics
Throwing electronics in the trash is a mistake that can cause serious damage to the environment. To ensure proper disposal, it's best to look for specialized collection points, offered by city halls, cooperatives, companies and even large retailers. Some electronics stores and cell phone operators maintain voluntary drop-off points (PEVs) For cell phones, batteries, chargers, and other accessories, we've listed some companies and cooperatives specializing in this collection at the end of this article. Additionally, there are temporary campaigns run by public and private institutions to collect used electronic equipment.
Batteries, for example, must be delivered to designated collection points, as they contain hazardous heavy metals. Larger appliances, such as refrigerators and washing machines, generally need to be taken to municipal recycling centers or delivered to authorized reverse logistics companies.
Once collected, electronics undergo a sorting process, separating them by material type—plastic, metal, glass, and electronic boards. Items in good condition can be refurbished for reuse or donation. Those beyond repair are disassembled, and their recyclable parts are sent to specialized industries, where they are transformed into raw materials. Toxic waste, such as mercury, lead, or cadmium, receives appropriate treatment to prevent soil and water contamination.
How to dispose of electronics, by category:
Below, understand how each electronic product should be properly disposed of.
Stacks
Stacks should not be disposed of in the regular trash, as they contain heavy metals that can contaminate the soil and water. The ideal is to take them to Voluntary Delivery Points (VDPs) in supermarkets, pharmacies, electronics stores or municipal recycling centers. Many retail chains and manufacturers offer collection programs to ensure correct and safe disposal.
Small appliances
Although they seem harmless, headphones, chargers, cables, remotes and adapters contain metals, plastics, and internal circuits that, if discarded in regular trash, can contaminate the environment. It's best to take them to specific collection points, available in electronics stores, supermarkets, shopping malls, recycling centers, and recycling campaigns. Because they are small, they are often overlooked, but they accumulate a large volume of waste over time, making their proper disposal essential.
CDs
CDs Composed of polycarbonate and aluminum, recyclable materials that take centuries to decompose in the environment. The ideal is to deliver them to electronics recycling centers, participate in reverse logistics programs or reuse them in craft projects and donations to institutions.
Refrigerators
Refrigerator, because it contains refrigerant gas and heavy metals, the refrigerator cannot be disposed of in the regular trash. The ideal is to look for specialized recycling centers, collection points for household appliances or reverse logistics programs offered by manufacturers.
It is worth talking about the program Samsung's RE+, that offers discounts of up to R$3 to those who hand in their old refrigerator when they want to buy a new one. We've already talked about more about this in a special article, be sure to check it out.
Microwave oven
Microwave oven, like other household appliances, should not be thrown in the regular trash. They can be taken to recycling points that accept electronic devices, delivered to municipal collection drives or sent to companies that disassemble and reuse parts.
Smaller appliances
Small appliances, such as blenders, hair dryers, coffee makers, fans and other small devices should not be thrown into the regular trash, as they contain electronic components and plastics that can pollute the environment. Proper disposal should be done in specific collection points for electronic waste, found in municipal recycling points, appliance stores, recycling campaigns or through reverse logistic, when the manufacturer or seller offers to return the used product.
Cell phones and accessories
Manufacturers and carriers often have reverse logistics programs to used cell phones and accessories, and many physical stores have collection boxes for this waste. It is also possible to dispose of it in ecopoints or in specific electronics collection campaigns.
Entities like the Brazilian Association of Public Cleaning Companies (Abree) and Green Electron provide more than 3.417 Voluntary Drop-Off Points (PEVs) for electronics spread across 1.224 municipalities, in parks, schools, companies, pharmacies, supermarkets, public buildings, etc. Visit their websites to find the one closest to your location.
Brands and operators in the segment, such as Apple e Samsung, also offer reverse logistics processes for iPhones, Galaxy smartphones with Android and other products sold by it.
And operators like Clear, Living e TIM They also receive and dispose of equipment for recycling, including collection points located in their stores:
Computers (Desktops and Notebooks)
A Brazilian Association for Electronic Recycling and Home Appliances collects correctly discarded products from stores, cooperatives and public bodies. There are already more than 3.800 points in 1.200 municipalities.
O association website has a service that allows you to locate the nearest collection point. Just enter the zip code and the type of product to be discarded. Last year, more than 1.200 tons were collected and recycled by the industry.
If the desktop or notebook computer is still working, it is also possible to donate the product through Computers for Inclusion Program, of the Federal Government, which aims to support and facilitate initiatives to promote digital inclusion through Computer Refurbishment Centers (CRC) — physical spaces adapted for the refurbishment of electronic equipment, for conducting courses and workshops, and for the proper disposal of electronic waste. Contact the association closest to your municipality. through this link.
Office and computer equipment
Printers, scanners, keyboards, mice, monitors, routers and UPSs, must be disposed of carefully, as they contain electronic components and substances that can be harmful to health and the environment. Correct disposal must be done in ecopoints, specialized cooperatives or reverse logistics programs offered by manufacturers and large retail chains. Before discarding, it is important remove personal data from devices with memory, such as hard drives and SSDs. When properly disposed of, these devices can have parts reused, recycled, or even refurbished for social use, reducing environmental impact and stimulating the circular economy.
TVs and monitors
Old or broken TVs and monitors should not be disposed of in the regular trash, as they contain toxic materials such as lead and mercury, which are especially present in the screens of older models. Proper disposal should be done in ecopoints, companies specialized in electronics recycling or through reverse logistics, when the manufacturer or retailer collects the old product.
Washing machines (or Wash & Dry)
Washing machines can be disposed of in places that accept large household appliances, such as municipal recycling centers, scrap yards or through collection services when purchasing new equipment. Components such as the motor and plastic casing can be recycled.
VHS tape
VHS tapes These plastics are made of plastic and magnetic tapes that are difficult to reuse. They can be taken to recycling centers that accept electronic waste or cooperatives that accept hard plastics. Another option is to look for art projects, NGOs, or creative recycling workshops.
Electronics donation: who can receive it?
Before discarding or donating electronics, it is essential to check the equipment status: Devices that are in good working order or can be repaired are generally welcome in refurbishment projects. Damaged or obsolete items, such as broken headphones, old televisions, or disused printers, should be taken to specialized recycling locations. See below companies and cooperatives that provide these collection services:
eCycle
A eCycle does not collect directly, but it is one of the largest disposal point aggregators in BrazilBy accessing the website and clicking on “Where to Dispose of,” users can enter their zip code and find hundreds of nearby locations (including cooperatives, businesses, and recycling centers) that accept electronics, batteries, and other waste. The platform provides addresses, opening hours and type of waste acceptedIt's an excellent tool for those who want to dispose of waste correctly but don't know where to start.
Green Electron
created by Abinee (Brazilian Electrical and Electronic Industry Association), Green Electron is the main reverse logistics management entity for electronics and batteries in Brazil. The company maintains voluntary delivery points (PEVs) in shopping malls, markets, stores, and public spaces in various states. The equipment is collected and sent to technical screening, where they are safely disassembled. Useful components are recycled; hazardous ones receive appropriate environmental treatment. Green Eletron also emits waste tracking reports, ensuring the transparency of the process.
Coopermiti
A Coopermiti, located in São Paulo, is one of the leading cooperatives in the treatment of electronic waste. The cooperative receives electronics from individuals, companies, and public agencies, carrying out sorting, manual disassembly and separation of materials (plastic, glass, metal, plates, etc.). What can be reused is sent for reuse; the rest goes to approved recycling plants. Coopermiti also offers scheduled collections for large volumes and participates in educational activities with the population.
Tech Girls
A Tech Girls is a social project that unites education, technology and environmental impact. The organization receives donations of electronics (computers, monitors, mice, keyboards, boards, power supplies, etc.), carries out reconditioning of parts and trains vulnerable women to work with electronics, programming, and equipment assembly. What cannot be used becomes technological fashion accessories (the calls Bijouxtechs®), adding value to scrap and avoiding landfill disposal. Tech Girls also offers training courses and focuses on social transformation and circular economy.
CDI & CRCs
O CDI (Committee for the Democratization of Information Technology) is an NGO that works in partnership with Computer Refurbishment Centers (CRCs) spread throughout Brazil. These centers receive donations of used computer equipment, such as computers, monitors, routers, and peripherals. The devices are evaluated, repaired, and configured for use in digital inclusion projects in public schools, NGOs, and underserved communities. Equipment that cannot be reused is disassembled, and its components are recycled correctly.
ABREE – Brazilian Association for Recycling of Electronics and Household Appliances
A OPEN is one of the leading reverse logistics management entities in Brazil, working in partnership with major brands to ensure the environmentally sound disposal of post-consumer electronic products. With collection points spread throughout the country, the association receives items such as TVs, microwaves, laptops, small appliances, and many others. The equipment is sent to companies specializing in disassembly, sorting, and recycling components—promoting the reuse of materials and preventing environmental contamination.
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