The participation of the population in the reverse logistics of electronic and household appliances is of utmost importance to ensure an environmentally appropriate final disposal of these waste materials. So important that the legislation provides for the participation of the consumer within the shared responsibility for the product life cycle.
The implementation of this process occurs through the collection at receiving points for this type of waste, avoiding disposal in regular waste or in conventional selective collection. For reverse logistics to be effective, it is essential that the population follows some guidelines when disposing of these products, how to separate electronic equipment from other types of waste, ensure that they are turned off, clean, and discard them whole whenever possible.
It is recommended to delete personal data contained in devices before disposal, remembering that there is no way to recover the products after their disposal. The correct disposal of electronic and household appliances helps prevent water and soil contamination, since many of these products contain toxic components, like mercury and cadmium. Furthermore, air pollution is avoided, especially in the case of devices that contain refrigerant gases, like refrigerators and air conditioners, what, when leaked, can harm the ozone layer.
It is important to emphasize that the population has no cost to carry out the correct disposal, given that reverse logistics is funded by manufacturers and importers. When disposing correctly, the consumer contributes to the preservation of the environment and also gains more space at home, by getting rid of obsolete equipment or that is no longer in use.
Awareness of reverse logistics and active participation of the population should not be restricted only to schools, but if it extends to companies and all households. With the frequent acquisition of new technological products, it is essential that the proper disposal of old equipment becomes a habit, aiming not only at individual benefit, but also the collective and the environmental.
By participating in reverse logistics, the population contributes to the reuse of materials and components of these equipment in the manufacture of new products, promoting the circular economy and reducing the need for the extraction of natural resources. In this way, everyone wins: the environment, the companies and society itself, who benefits from a more sustainable and responsible production cycle.
