GUWAHATI:
Earthful Foundation, a non-government organization led by playback singer Angaraag Mahanta (Papon), is planning to recycle more than two tonnes of e-waste from Guwahati city in a massive electronic waste awareness-cum-collection drive in Guwahati from January 4 to 12.
The drive was launched on January 4 in association with the Assam state office of World Wildlife Fund-India (WWF-India).
“When our electronic devices stop working they become e-waste, which is a rapidly growing global concern. E-waste also contains metals like gold, silver, copper, etc, which have economic value when recycled,” said Mahanta, director Earthful Foundation.
“Unfortunately, the majority of e-waste is thrown away casually. It is broken to obtain valuable components. Remaining hazardous wastes are either burnt or dumped casually which results in a significant risk of toxic exposures to our health and environment. Informal sector many times employs children in the unregulated e-waste recycling,” Mahanta said.
A survey conducted by a Delhi-based NGO Toxic Link in 2015 revealed that Assam produces 14,000 e-waste every year, which is the sixth highest in the country.
Guwahati has been identified by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) as one of the 10 cities where awareness about e-waste management is lowest. India is the fifth largest generator of e-waste in the world with 2 million tonnes of e-waste being generated every year.
“We have launched this awareness drive in 2021 in which we collected and recycled one tonne of e-waste in Guwahati,” said Amrita Baruah, operation manager of Earthful Foundation.
“This year we are targeting around 2 tonnes of e-waste this year,” Baruah said.
“Various schools, colleges, offices, residential societies and citizens are likely to participate in this drive for creating awareness and helping us to channelise the e-wastes to authorized recyclers,” said Archita Baruah
Bhattacharya, head of Assam State Office, WWF-I.
“E-waste should always be handled by Pollution Control Board authorized recycler so that it can be disposed of in an environment-friendly manner, Bhattacharya said in a statement here.
“The e-waste awareness cum collection drive is an opportunity to dispose of unused mobile phones, laptops, TV, refrigerator, computers and any such electronic items from home or workplace,” she added.
The WWF-India has requested organisations and individuals to get their e-waste picked up from the doorstep and call Earthful Foundation at 8104784289 or 9101290340 between January 4 to 9.
The pickup vehicle will reach the doorstep as per the appointment from January 10 to 12. The organisation requested all to be a part of the drive and contribute to curbing electronic waste pollution for a better tomorrow.