This initiative trains waste pickers in India to collect electronic waste, such as computers and
mobile phones, for safe disposal and recycling. By recycling raw materials from discarded
electronics, natural resources are conserved and air and water pollution caused by hazardous
disposal is avoided. Recycling e-waste from landfills reduces methane emissions, which are 25 times
more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere. The initiative makes the waste
pickers more resilient to poverty by providing green jobs that increase their incomes and protect
them from the risks of exposure to toxins and heavy metals.
Key facts:
More than 2,000 waste pickers have been trained to collect e-waste for safe disposal and
recycling
The initiative negotiates for the best rates from recycling companies so that waste pickers can
earn more money, increasing their incomes by 10-30%
More than 17 tonnes of e-waste is collected each year, preventing the release of carbon dioxide
and other greenhouse gases. E-waste that is not recycled contributes to about 4.25% of the
greenhouse emissions
Informal waste pickers help clean up India’s cities by recycling approximately 20% of the waste
generated. However, these waste pickers still do not have formal recognition, equal rights, secure and safe
livelihoods and dignity. And as consumption patterns change with a growing economy, their work exposes them
to ever higher levels of pollution and dangerous toxins.
According to a UN report, India is the world’s fifth largest producer of e-waste, discarding almost
1.7 million tonnes of e-waste in 2014. Almost 95% of the e-waste it produces is either burned or dumped in
landfills. With rapid urbanization, this will only multiply—as will the number of people handling it
at considerable risk to their health. Managing waste, ensuring sustainable consumption and a healthy
environment, and ensuring just and safe working conditions for waste pickers are urgent challenges.
The solution
Chintan, an Indian NGO, in cooperation with Delhi’s
Pollution Control Committee and the city’s Department of Environment, created a partnership with
Safai Sena, a registered association of waste pickers to improve collection, segregation and storage of
e-waste. They then joined forces with companies in India that safely recover metals and plastics from
e-waste.
The initiative trains waste pickers to collect e-waste using safe e-waste handling practices to reduce
their exposure to dangerous toxins. After it is collected, the e-waste is safely stored at Chintan’s
authorized collection center and sent to recyclers for safe disposal/recycling.
Helping the planet
By recycling raw materials from discarded electronics, natural resources are conserved and air and water
pollution caused by hazardous disposal is avoided.
Recycling e-waste from landfills reduces methane emissions, which are 25 times more potent than carbon
dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere. Recycling instead of producing new materials will also reduce
overall energy consumption, avoiding direct greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing the environmental impact
of natural resources extraction.
By diverting about 17 tonnes of e-waste to recycling centers each year, this project is reducing greenhouse
gas emissions. In addition, the waste pickers collect e-waste in non-motorized vehicles. This means
collection and transportation of e-waste is emission-free.
Helping people
In Delhi alone, more than 25,000 people earn a living from e-waste handling, collection, dismantling and
metal extraction.
Chintan works in partnership with waste pickers, itinerant buyers and small scrap dealers. More than 2,000
waste pickers have been trained on how to deal with e-waste in a safe manner. Electronic waste that is
typically burned or dumped in a landfill is now instead collected directly from households, schools and
businesses and recycled safely.
The initiative also negotiates for the best rates from recycling companies for e-waste, so that waste
pickers can earn more money. This has increased their incomes by 10-30%.
Spillover effect
Many countries, such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand and Ghana, also produce a considerable amount of
e-waste and are also served by waste pickers for waste handling. Therefore, there is a huge potential not
only to give these waste pickers sustainable livelihood but also work towards generating more awareness on
better e-waste practices.
The E-Waste: From Toxic to Green initiative can serve as a model to help other countries recycle e-waste
and fight poverty. As Chintan’s model of handling e-waste is highly replicable due to its low cost,
it can be adopted by other cities and countries where e-waste involves significant risk to workers,
communities and the environment.
Images owned by the activity partners, all rights reserved.
