Phulkari to tackle toxic electronic waste

Electronic waste, commonly known as e-waste, is one of the fastest-growing environmental concerns in India and around the world. With a staggering 5 million tonnes of e-waste generated annually, India ranks as the third-largest e-waste generating nation. Despite its hazardous impact, e-waste remains largely misunderstood by the general public, though it has a direct and lasting effect on our natural resources.

To address this growing issue through community engagement and education, Phulkari-Women of Amritsar, a non-profit organisation led by women entrepreneurs, is collaborating with The Threco Company, a Mumbai-based e-waste management firm for waste management and disposal.

The collaboration aims to reduce the environmental impact of electronic waste, supporting a culture of sustainability and responsibility within local communities. The initiative, approved by the Punjab Pollution Control Board, will engage Phulkari as the local partner, focusing on raising awareness and organising collection drives for e-waste.

Minakshi Khanna, president of Phulkari-WOA, shared details about the first phase of the project, which will begin with an e-waste collection drive. “We are launching the e-Parivartan project with a four-day e-waste collection drive at Cambridge Junior School, starting June 1 till June 4. Collection is the first and most critical step in effective waste management. Once gathered, the e-waste will logistically transported for segregation and disposal, which is where The Threco Company comes into picture,” she said.

Minakshi emphasised that the partnership was designed to bring e-waste into the conversation around environmental degradation. “Usually, we do not realise where our discarded charger, laptops or hard drives go once we dump. What happens to these at the landfill? These items, which contain hazardous substances like mercury, lead and cadmium, pose serious risks to our soil, air and water. The most common method of disposal, burning, is extremely dangerous and practiced by local garbage collectors or municipal corporations,” she added.

The Threco Company operates a recycling plant in Mumbai that is authorised by both the Central Pollution Control Board and the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Their business model is based on integrating e-waste into the circular economy through secure, scientific and sustainable disposal methods.

The partnership will also extend to Phulkari-Women of Jalandhar, another regional unit. “We will conduct workshops and seminars to educate the public on the dangers of improper e-waste disposal and the importance of recycling. We’ll share resources like educational materials, expert talks and presentations to enhance the campaign’s effectiveness and centre operations. We will also engage schools and colleges actively,” she said.