How to Dispose of Electronic Waste in São Paulo

Legislation and Responsibility in Electronic Waste Disposal in São Paulo

The disposal of electronic waste in São Paulo must comply with federal and state legislation, ensuring proper destination and reducing environmental impacts. The National Solid Waste Policy (Law No. 12,305/2010) is the main normative reference, imposing shared responsibilities for the proper disposal of electronic waste.

What Characterizes Electronic Waste

Electronic waste includes any electronic equipment that has lost its usefulness or is defective, including computers, cell phones, televisions, monitors, and peripherals. Due to the presence of heavy metals and toxic components, improper disposal can cause soil and water contamination and public health risks.

Proper Methodologies for Disposal in São Paulo

Citizens and organizations should direct their electronic waste to accredited collection points. The electronic waste collection is the recommended procedure, featuring infrastructure for storage and forwarding for appropriate recycling or reuse, following CETESB standards and in accordance with the requirements of the National Information System on Solid Waste Management (SINIR).

Safe Disposal of Storage Devices

Storage devices such as hard drives, SSDs, and other data media require specific procedures to ensure information security before disposal. Specialized services in HD sanitization perform physical destruction or secure data cleansing, preventing unauthorized access according to best practices recommended by NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology).

Official Locations and Disposal Programs in São Paulo

The state of São Paulo maintains authorized reception points and periodic campaigns to facilitate responsible disposal, following the guidance of CETESB (Environmental Company of the State of São Paulo). It is essential to consult official platforms and schedule appointments to ensure proper service, minimizing the risk of irregular disposal.

Consequences of Improper Disposal

Improper disposal of electronic waste entails penalties provided by federal and state environmental legislation. Beyond environmental impact, administrative sanctions, fines, and civil actions may occur due to environmental contamination and health risk exposure.
Learn about current regulations in the text of Law No. 12,305/2010 and on the CETESB website for complete information on waste management.