By Greentech Lead Team: Baroda IT Association (BITA)
and EcoSarjan, an Ahmedabad-based non-government organization (NGO) have
collected 4 tons of electronic waste (e-waste) during a three-day IT exhibition
in Vadodara from February 17-19.
The event collected e-wastes including CPUs, cellphones,
landline devices, modems, old typewriters, USB drives, tube lights and many
more such electronic appliances now out of use. The waste will be disposed by
Ecoli Waste Management as per Gujarat Pollution Control Norms.
“We will organize one-day camps every week evaluate
e-waste collected. This waste will be sorted and sent to the disposal plant.
The exercise will continue till the time we have a permanent collection center
in Vadodara,” said Dipan
Shah, director, EcoSarjan.
BITA and EcoSarjan offered cash vouchers to those who
deposited their e-waste with the center. These vouchers could be redeemed at
the exhibition to buy a new electronic product. About Rs 1.4 lakh were given in
vouchers in exchange of e-waste. The amounts decided were based on type and
condition of e-waste brought in.
EcoSarjan and its partner organization BITA came up with
an innovative idea to ensure more participation in the program. This e-waste
drive has started receiving an increased number of calls from corporate houses,
retailers and individuals who want their out-of-use electronics disposed. This
response will help collect three times the e-waste collected during the exhibition.
EcoSarjan and BITA also planned similar camps for
Ahmedabad as well. GPCB and Vadodara Municipal Sewa Sadan (VMSS) will support
this drive.
“Our work is to replicate collection center at all
IT exhibitions in Gujarat. We will also extend productive life of computer
systems, wherein we collect and refurbish them and deliver the same for free to
those who require them,” Shah added.
The Society for Environment Protection (SEP) through its
EcoSarjan project has been working on the issue of E-waste since 2009. It has
evolved a comprehensive plan for E-waste awareness and management campaign for
Gujarat.