LEAP - E-Waste Drive

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have e-waste piling up at home. If this e-waste is disposed incorrectly, it can result in environmental hazards and pollution. Hence, TISB’s LEAP club has decided to conduct e-waste drives across the city in collaboration with the non-profit organisation Saahas and volunteers from schools across Bangalore. We contacted Grade 11 student Konik, who together with Rahul, Siddhant and Shrishti, has been centrally engaged with developing the project.

Many of us who live in communities, or even independent houses, don’t know how our e-waste is processed, and what actually happens when we put them in bins – Konik, Grade 11

The e-waste project is a collaboration between the LEAP Initiative and Saahas. Saahas is a non-profit organisation working in the field of waste management, and is especially involved in the safe and responsible processing of e-waste. The LEAP team has extended invitations to numerous schools to participate in this drive and coordinate it in their communities. “As of now, we have a dedicated team from across Bangalore who are planning to conduct e-waste drives in their respective localities”, explains Konik who recently got promoted to the leadership team of LEAP. 

As part of the initiative, everyone with e-waste in their localities and nearby are encouraged to contribute their e-waste to the drive. By spreading the word and promoting e-waste management, the team hopes, not only to reduce e-waste, but also to raise knowledge and awareness about the issues. “Some of us may not even know how to dispose of our e-waste. We want to raise awareness across Bangalore about the correct way to get rid of e-waste, and the problems associated with wrong disposal of e-waste.”, says Konik who hopes that this will reduce the risk of e-waste ending up on the streets or in sewers if disposed incorrectly.

The e-waste drives will happen physically, in real life, but with no direct contact between the donators and the collectors. The donators will be led to a drop-off spot, and Saahas representatives from their ground team will collect the e-waste and take it to their processing plants. The communities hosting e-waste drives will be from all over Bangalore, and the participants themselves will need to take responsibility to plan and coordinate the drive with Saahas and their communities. Therefore, responsibility is encouraged among communities. 

“It serves to encourage our communities into taking action for the environment”, explains Konik, who also points to another international project that LEAP is part of arranging: the ‘Environmental Educational Video Series (EEVS)’. Through this project they hope to help create more environmentally aware content for the younger generations which enables them to take effective action to better their communities and immediate surroundings. “This video series will contain a collection of videos about environmental issues and the solutions that can be implemented at a grassroot level”, says Konik and encourages young people and parents to sign up via the EEVS application form.

The team behind LEAP are also working with ENSYDE to hold an interactive project-based workshop ,called  the ‘Planeteer’s Education Program’. "The reputed NGO ENSYDE is holding this program to educate the youth about environmental issues and solutions to combat them”, says Konik as he explains that ENSYDE will hold four session, each of which will cover a different environmental issue. During the program students are able implement up to 10 simple solutions at home. “We are helping market this program so interested students are aware of this opportunity”, says Konik and encourages participants to register for 500 INR by emailing: [email protected].