Banca de DEFESA: MARCIA BARROS CARVALHO MELO

Uma banca de DEFESA de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : MARCIA BARROS CARVALHO MELO
DATE: 29/01/2026
TIME: 14:00
LOCAL: meet.google.com/hic-mmub-ayu
TITLE:

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Management and the Participation of Recyclable Materials Pickers: A Case Study in the Metropolitan Region of Recife, Brazil

KEY WORDS:

Circular Economy; Cooperative; E-waste; Informal Recycling; WEEE.

PAGES: 100
BIG AREA: Engenharias
AREA: Engenharia Sanitária
SUMMARY:

The rapid technological advancement, combined with intense patterns of consumption and disposal of electrical and electronic equipment, results in a significant increase in this type of waste, classified as Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), also known as electronic waste or e-waste. This phenomenon concerns researchers and public managers, as the generation rate of this waste still exceeds recycling rates, highlighting the predominance of inadequate disposal practices and causing impacts on the environment and human health. The complexity of e-waste derives from its heterogeneous composition, consisting of interconnected organic and inorganic materials that, when improperly handled, can cause soil, water, and air pollution, as well as release toxic substances harmful to ecosystems and living organisms. Reverse logistics and the circular economy emerge as alternatives to mitigate these negative impacts; however, they require investments to increase recovery and recycling rates. Recyclable material pickers play a fundamental role in this process, as they can contribute to the collection, sorting, and proper routing of this type of waste. Nevertheless, the formal participation of these actors remains limited, particularly with regard to social and institutional recognition, inclusion in public policies, and access to adequate working conditions. This project is structured into three chapters, culminating in the development of a Good Practices Guide for Electronic Waste Management with the Participation of Recyclable Material Pickers. The first chapter presents a review of the scientific literature on the participation of these workers in WEEE recycling, using bibliometric and scientometric indicators. The search employs the keywords electronic, waste, and picker in the Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science databases, covering the period from 2016 to 2025. As a result, trends, research gaps, and scientific collaboration networks are identified. The second chapter consists of the survey and analysis of legal instruments addressing the participation of recyclable material pickers in WEEE management, including international guidelines, Brazilian federal legislation, Pernambuco state legislation, and municipal legislation from the cities of Recife and Jaboatão dos Guararapes. The third chapter presents a case study conducted in five institutions located in the Recife Metropolitan Region (RMR/PE), including three recyclable material pickers’ cooperatives and two private companies with different levels of formalization operating in e-waste recycling. The research uses technical visits with questionnaire application and photographic records to assess the current conditions of the studied sites. The study also highlights similarities and differences in the operation of these institutions, as well as their level of regulatory compliance. The questionnaire addresses aspects related to structure and organization, operations and processes, economic and management aspects, working conditions, environmental and social impacts, and challenges and perspectives.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Externo à Instituição - ÍTALO EMANUEL ROLEMBERG DOS SANTOS
Presidente - SORAYA GIOVANETTI EL DEIR
Interno - VICTOR CASIMIRO PISCOYA