Social Perception of Electronic waste problem in the City of Córdoba, Argentina

Electronic waste is an emerging fraction of Municipal solid waste (MSW) and as such they are a problem that is addressed to a greater or lesser extent in different parts of the world. This waste classification includes from batteries to washing machines and refrigerators including consumer electronics. The objective of this paper is to analyze the population perception regarding electronic waste. This is done through information collected by the Computers Recycling Program of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences Faculty of National University of Córdoba. It is generally found that an association has been made between hazard and the fraction consisting of batteries. This is seen in the accumulation of used batteries in domiciles or collection centers, avoiding being discarded along with the MSW. The technological replacement leads to the replacement of equipment, mainly cell phones and computers, without predicting what to do with this waste devices. 60% of electronic equipment users perceive that obsolete electronic equipment has some remaining value when they reach the end of their useful life and transiently store them in homes or sometimes leaves them in the streets with the intention that an informal garbage collector gives them some use, ignoring the presence of potentially dangerous elements that can contaminate the environment. With this range of behaviors, it is necessary to carry out awareness activities to help improve the management of Electronic Waste in the City of Córdoba.