The governance of E-waste recycling networks: Insights from São Paulo City

Abstract

Electronic waste is an environmental problem because its production volume exceeds its recycling capacity. Academic and managerial production affirm two reasons: (a) dominant market logic and; (b) unresolved asymmetries among actors, causing conflicts to work together. Following the qualitative methodology, we investigate the e-waste situation in São Paulo City. The results allow us to propose that governance constructed by local actors could be a thoughtful way to promote e-waste recycling. Examples from around the world sustain this proposition. The theoretical principle is that the social process of constructing the mechanisms for collective action can solve challenges because the rules, roles, and actions are discussed and assumed by the actors working together. We present a matrix of indicators to be used in future studies in order to refine the proposition of constructed governance.

Keywords: Constructed governance; Network management; Policy; Regulations; Waste.