E-WASTE MANAGEMENT AND 'GIVE INITIATIVE' TO HELP THE UNDERPRIVILEGED
For the past 5 years, my neighbours and I have been practicing the habit of cleaning the house every 3 months and setting aside unwanted but usable items ready for the garage sale that we organize within our apartment complex. This garage sale is meant for the cleaners, security guards and helpers working here. We collect all the items, categorize them, and then put them up for sale with minimal costs. With the amount collected, we buy groceries and donate them to the orphanage nearby. This system has been working well for the past five years.
Unfortunately, now due to the pandemic, it is impossible to have a garage sale. So, whenever we have usable toys, clothes, books, bags, games, curtains, etc. to donate, we have been handing them over to the cleaners, security guards or helpers whom we are in touch with regularly.
But, what about electronic items like our refrigerators, washing machine, mobiles, tablets, laptops, etc.? These electronic items contain chemicals (like mercury, lead, beryllium, brominated flame retardants, cadmium, etc.) that are harmful to us as well as to our surroundings. If they are mishandled during disposal, it could prove dangerous for the future generations because the chemicals from these items could end up in the water, soil, or air.
Initially, we piled them up at home. Later, we began giving them to our helper, because we assumed that she knew where to dispose the electronic items. Or perhaps, we thought she would at least give them to a repair shop, thereby being of use to her directly or indirectly. But, one day when I asked her what she did with the iPhone I had given her, she told me that she had to throw it in the garbage bin because the guy at the mobile shop was unable to unlock it. I was horrified.
After that, I only kept toys or clothes for her to take and, fortunately, while looking for e-Waste collectors, I came across Byju’s (India’s most loved education app) e-Waste Collection Management initiative. Instead of just selling their products and leaving the headache of disposing them to us, Byju’s collects the devices at the end of their useful lives. You can also drop other unwanted electronic items at their collection point closest to you and the company will arrange to safely dispose or recycle the same.
Due to work-from-home and online schooling situations, many of us have had to buy additional devices, resulting in storing piles of spares and out-dated models at home. But, as they say, one man’s trash could be another man’s treasure. With Byju’s GIVE initiative, your undesirable devices could be a gem that lights up a less fortunate child’s future.
How? Well, Byju’s mission called ‘Byju’s Education for all’ aims to educate 5 million children from underprivileged communities by 2025. They have decided to recycle by repurposing and refurbishing your unwanted mobile phone or tablet and loading the Byju’s application in them before delivering these now-ready devices to the needy – FREE OF COST!
Operating System: Android 5.1 and above
Screen size: 5 inches and above
External Storage: Up to 128GB for combo SD cards
RAM: 2GB and above
In case your device is eligible and in usable condition, you can fill the form and get your device collected by a Byju’s campaign partner. You will definitely feel the satisfaction of having contributed to a child’s education.
Thanks to me, you now know where and how you can dispose your e-Waste. So, come on, let us dig our drawers and help the underprivileged in the country.
Picture courtesy : John Marshall/Aveti Learning
31 Comments
It was such an awesome initiative especially when in this pandemic poor kids are worst affected when it comes to education.
I am behind everything and anything that supports the under privileged. Byjus is doing a great job.
Good to know about BYJU’S initiative that makes the most of the disposed mobile phones and tablets.
This seems to be a nice initiative by Byjus and each one of us can do our bit by simply not disposing of the electronic device.
That is such an amazing initiate by Byjus. The E waste Collection Management seems like a much-needed thing to reduce gadget pollution. This way they are able to repurpose and control the electronic waste as well.
This E waste Collection Management Initiative by Byjus is worth the applause. It is very easy and any one can do his bit with this.
Disposing e waste is a big headache as we really don’t know where to put them. We have plenty of devices with us and would check out if they meet the requirement and hand it over for sure. Thanks for sharing this.
Ya, Hansa, the ones not working can be disposed in their e-waste collection. The ones that meet their specifications can be donated for the GIVE initiative cause.
Very good post about BYJU’s e-waste management. Highly informative and nicely written. Keep up the good work.
I have heard about this initiative by byjus. I would say it is a great initiative by byjus. Hopefully in these difficult times, children will get their right to education with this one.
Loved your idea of garage sale and also the initiative by Byju’s is superb. Would love to be a part of it.
I think this is a very commendable initiative by Byjus. E-Waste is indeed a challenge that is sure to attain monstrous proportions in the days to come.
Wow this is such an awesome initiative by Byjus. I usually give away my old electronics too to an orphanage or an underprivileged schools. I have always wished that they help the kids in some way. I never trade in my old electronics with new ones as I keep them for these initiatives. I will have a look if I have any devices that meet your spec and see if I can help in any way.
That is awesome, Raksha. Let me know your experience with Byju’s.
That’s a nice initiative actually.. disposing electronic waste is a challenge no doubt. Thanks I didn’t know byjus was doing it
That’s so great. We have to watch 3 old laptops with us and our home which are not of any use to us will there be accepting laptops as well?
If they are working, you can check with them on the contact details on their website. They did not list laptops but I’m sure they can make it usable for the kids.
I really like this initiative. We have been trying to find some ewaste management companies for our gadgets. Will surely check this out.
Awesome, Ambica. Let me know your experience with them.
That’s such a nice and amazing initiative by Byju’s! I would like to be a part of this Nobel cause and will try to help them. Thanks, for such an informative post!
That’s great Pamela. If you do, please let me know about your experience with them. Thanks.
Disposing e-waste in the right way is an issue. I am glad Byju came.up with this initiative I will surely check more details and share with friends too.
Hey, Manisha. Surely share the blog for information so that less devices land in the bins.
I wasn’t aware that Byjus is doing such great job too. It is extremely helpful. I would be happy to be a part of it!
That’s such a nice initiative by Byju’s! I would like to be a part of this nobel drive too for sure. Thanks, for such an informative post!
It is commendable that organisations are giving back to the environment and community as well . It speaks volumes about their intentions
So true!
I also do garage sell and same things happened with our electronic gadgets. I had no idea about the initiative taken by Byju. Would like to take part of this for sure.
Sure thing, Shree. Let me know your experience with it.
So good to hear about the Byju’s e-Waste Collection Management initiative. I will contact them soon to get rid of my unwanted electronic items.
Awesome, Rahul, glad to hear that. Let me know your experience with it.