Circular economy applied to electrical and electronic waste as a socio-environmental alternative and production strategy in the Pedro Carbo canton

Abstract

The use of natural resources, the challenge of laws and environmental sustainability, as well as waste management, receive great attention. The objective of this research was to analyze the circular economy as a strategy in the management of electrical and electronic waste discarded in the Pedro Carbo canton. The study was descriptive, not experimental. As a technique, a survey adapted from an investigation carried out by Oblitas, Sangay, Rojas and Castro in 2019 was applied to find out how electrical and electronic waste is treated. The study was carried out in two phases: In the first, the bibliography was reviewed, technical data sheets of the equipment were analyzed, field research was carried out at the institutions under study to determine the application of extended responsibility regulations and knowledge of the related ministerial agreement 190. to the management of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). As a second phase, the results were tabulated, analyzed and the study was concluded with the purpose of identifying the perception of the supply of remanufactured computers and equipment. The objects of analysis: 5 public entities, 5 private, 7 Cyber, 3 technical workshops and 3 warehouses for the sale of technological products, which will be used as a sample. A statistical design was used for the comparison between the generators using the ANOVA test to determine if the results are significant. As a result, the relationship between the socioeconomic level and the acceptance of the computer was determined and a significant correlation was found between the variables. As a conclusion, it is concluded that the circular economy is an adequate alternative to the management of electrical and electronic waste, observing positive opinions about these products based on the computing needs of users.