Eco Recycling Ltd, a scientific waste recycling company, has launched a mobile app for doorstep collection of e-waste.
In a release, Eco Recycling said that the app “BookMyJunk” saw good success in Mumbai and Thane, during its beta launch when it made 118 trips with its dedicated vehicles and collected e-waste from 692 places.
Eco Recycling estimates that India is expected to generate 8 million of e- waste by 2025.
BookMyJunk is a mobile app developed to assist environment conscious users of electronic devices, when they decide to discard and need someone to come to their doorstep to collect-waste for recycling, the release noted.
What is e-waste?
The collected e-waste or discarded electronic material includes mobile phones, chargers, laptops, keyboards, mouse, TVs, LCDs, laptops, desktops, mixers, ovens, irons, fridges, washing machines, etc.
Awareness matters
“It is usually said that lack of awareness and monetary consideration drives the end users to avail inferior way of disposal of their e-waste; but Book My Junk believes that if awareness is associated with action, it has greater and perpetual Impact,” according to B.K. Soni, Chairman & Managing Director, Eco Recycling.
E-waste in India
According to the release, India is going to witness a fast increasing load of e-waste, originating from both household consumption and enterprises over and above illegal imports. Western India contributes more than 30 per cent of the country’s 3.2million tonnes of e- waste generated annually, making India the fourth-largest producer of e-waste. Increasing digitization, online payments, smart cities, change in technologies are contributing to increasing e- waste of India as well. The country is expected to generate 8 million of e- waste by 2025.
Helping manufacturers
Hence the significance of the Book My Junk initiative, it not only deals with the e- waste in a scientific manner collected from the doorsteps of the end-users, but the platform also facilitates the producers of electrical and electronic equipment to meet their obligation and target under the E-waste Management Rules.
Scientific approach
The importance of BookMyJunk initiative is critical for a country like India. Improper e-waste disposal in landfills or other non-dumping sites pose serious threats to current public health and can pollute eco systems for generations to come. When electronics are improperly disposed and end up in landfills, toxic chemicals are released, impacting the air, soil, water and ultimately, human health.
“We should not be worried of growing quantity of WEEE, because it’s a direct reflection of our socio-economic growth. BookMyJunk is an easy-to-use app that enables people and organizations to get their e-waste collected and recycled responsibly. This initiative aims to play a key role in assisting not only the end users but the OEMs and regulator in effectively implementing the rules and achieving desired targets seamlessly and effortlessly,” says Soni.
Featured photograph, sourced from dtc1.com is for illustration only
