Circular economy and e-waste management in the Americas: Brazilian and Canadian frameworks

Abstract

The significant e-waste generation in the Americas represents an important opportunity to implement waste recovery systems under the Circular Economy model. This paper conducts an exploratory analysis about the e-waste management at different scales (economic blocs and country levels) in the American continent, emphasizing generation patterns, e-waste fluxes and the regulation frameworks in Brazil and Canada in order to identify how the e-waste management options are driven by specific legal, economic, and environmental criteria. The methodology includes a review of literature covering information and indicators for both quantitative and qualitative analysis and comparison between selected countries regarding positive and negative aspects of e-waste management systems in each jurisdiction. The finds suggest that although Brazil and Canada have differentiated scope of regulation, both ratified the Basel Convention, have an action agenda that seeks to prioritize the management of hazardous substances, as well as lack of harmonized regulation, low control of the e-waste illegal trade and traceability. The identification of e-waste flows and comparison of economic blocs and countries is a still little explored theme and emphasizes the need for adequate legal measures to implement circular economy strategies to avoid impacts and enhance the value recovery of these materials in the production chain. Doing so could support harmonized regulation, new business models and increase sustainability levels for citizens through solutions that integrate policies and practices between and within economic blocs.