Constructed Governance as Solution to Conflicts in E-Waste Recycling Networks

Fernanda Pedro, Ernesto Giglio, Luis Velazquez and Nora Munguia
Additional contact information
Fernanda Pedro: Department of Administration, Paulista University—UNIP, São Paulo 05353-050, Brazil
Ernesto Giglio: Department of Administration, Paulista University—UNIP, São Paulo 05353-050, Brazil
Luis Velazquez: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Sonora, Sonora 83260, Mexico
Nora Munguia: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Sonora, Sonora 83260, Mexico

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 4, 1-22

Abstract: Electronic waste (e-waste) has become an increasingly pressing problem worldwide because of the increase in the volume of waste, without a corresponding increase in the recycling rate. E-waste recycling models show a low percentage of reuse, at around 17.4% in the world, 11% in Latin America, and 3% in São Paulo City, Brazil. The sources of conflicts relating to e-waste recycling networks are diverse, including asymmetries of objectives, knowledge, ethical values, and culture of sustainability, which indicates the need for a system of regulatory mechanisms. The article’s main proposition is that constructed governance, which is a collective process involving many actors, could be an alternative to e-waste recycling management. The city of São Paulo was chosen to be analyzed. Using an abductive methodology, the data analysis shows a fragmented network, with conflicts of interest among commercial and sustainability objectives, an absence of legal knowledge, and increases in the incorrect disposal of waste. However, initiatives in small groups in Brazil, which can be considered as examples of constructed governance, show a better volume of waste and the transportation of waste material to the right destination. The authors argue that constructed governance could be an efficient tool for e-waste recycling management systems. Besides, the article offers a matrix of indicators that can be used by both researchers and recycling managers.

Keywords: e-waste; recycling; sustainability; constructed governance; networks; asymmetry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/4/1701/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/4/1701/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:4:p:1701-:d:493481

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().