E-Waste Collection: GHMC Provides List of Centres for Disposing Disused Electronic Gadgets
At selected mobile stores: Phones, tablets, laptops, chargers, cables, printers, keyboards, cameras, gaming consoles, DVD players, hair dryers, shavers, ironbox, ear-phones, batteries, electronic toys etc. Doorstep via QR code: Refrigerators, washing machines, televisions, microwave ovens, dishwashers, tubelights , wet/leaking items.
Hyderabad: The GHMC started a new e-waste disposal initiative using a QR code that involves two steps —scanning the QR code to locate the nearest drop point, and handing over of e-waste. The GHMC said the QR code doesn’t require downloading any app. The GHMC said 40 additional drop-off locations will come up soon.
The GHMC said it was currently facilitating drop boxes inside 30 retail mobile stores in different parts of the city. The corporation has also reached out to city-based electronic waste recycling companies to collect e-waste directly from citizen’s homes.
Citizens who deposit their e-waste at these centres will get an appreciation certificate and reward points that can be redeemed at approved self-help group (SHG) stalls located at Shilparamam, Madhapur.
On Wednesday, GHMC commissioner R.V. Karnan launched the e-waste ecosystem initiative at two mobile retail stores in Ameerpet.
The recyclers — consultancies and private companies that recycle e-waste — have been trained on usage of the application. The list of recyclers who on the GHMC list are Earth Sense, Recytronics, Pure Earth, Z Enviro and Green Enviro.
Further the GHMC is inviting brands, volunteers and other interested parties to join in providing feedback.
Commissioner Karnan said the response to the first e-waste initiative launched in January received a very encouraging response. “Building on that, we continued weekend e-waste collection drives under the 99-day Praja Palana – Pragathi Pranalika programme,” he said.
The corporation had received consistent feedback that a more permanent and easily accessible system was needed, Karnan said, explaining the need for the new system.
According to the GHMC, the whole activity enhances source segregation of waste, citizen involvement, and tracking of waste and dumping the treated waste into landfills. The GHMC has called this project the first e-waste ecosystem. “E-waste is a toxic time bomb if not managed properly,” said a GHMC official. “E-easte releases heavy metals like lead, mercury cadmium, etc into soil and water, poisoning ecosystems and harming communities,” he added.