Grade 10 student tackling e - waste

Grade 10 student tackling e - waste

Tvisha Vinod - March 3rd 2021

Riva Tulpule, a class 10 student at GEMS Morden Academy, UAE (United Arab Emirates), who runs WeCareDXB - an organization that helps recycle e - waste and also creates awareness about how hazardous e - waste can effect human beings and their lifestyle. She creates appeal videos on how electronic e - waste is hazardous for human lifestyles. There is an interview on e- waste and the process on how they are recycled. You can read the tips and how to reduce e - waste.

Here, is an interview that encourages readers to start recycling their e - waste and to know more about e - waste and WeCareDXB

Interview:

Why did you start WeCareDXB?

"Four years ago, when my family was moving homes, I realised that we had a lot of e - waste that  needed to be disposed of. When I asked my mom why this waste couldn't been thrown in the bin, she said it needed to be treated differently, but she wasn't aware about the process. That's when I started researching and realising  that the e - waste planet was affecting our planet in a really big way. I also realised that like my family, many people are not aware of where to recycle e - waste and may also not have time to go to recycle centers where e - waste is recycled. That's when I started WeCareDXB, to help my neighbours and friends recycle their e - waste. I made small brochures and circulated them in my building. But not many took it seriously so my dad suggested that I should make an appeal video stating the facts about e - waste and offer to pick up the e - waste for recycling. The video needed the platform so I decided to start a Facebook page called WeCareDXB with my dad help, using his Facebook account. That's how WeCareDXB was formed."

What were the challenges you faced and how did you overcome them?

"The biggest challenge was to convince people to part with their e - waste as they would be concerned about their old photos and the data on their services. The second problem was the storage of all the e - waste that was collected, And then came the problem of transporting the bulky items. However, all the above issues were tackled as I gave people tips on how to erase the data before handing over the devices. For example, dipping a phone in saltwater erases all the data on it. I also tied up with a recycling center that helped me with all the e- waste. Lastly, I met a kind man who has a transport company, who offered to collect the large bulky items free of cost."

How did you raise awareness about your recycling campaign?
"I created brochures and appeal videos as well for all my campaign, which I uploaded on my social media handles. In the videos, I included shocking facts about e - waste and its harmful effects, which helped in creating awareness about the issue."

How is the waste collected and given for recycling?

"All the e - waste is collected by me with the help of my parents, who drive to the homes who wish to contribute to the cause. The e - waste is stored in the backyard of my house and when we have to transport, all the accumulated e - waste is collected by EnviroServe. They come in their green truck and take all the e - waste to the recycling center where t is recycled."

What are the stages in electronic waste recycling process?

"Broadly speaking e - waste items or appliances are collected and the wires are cut and put way separately to remove the copper from them. The e - waste is then crushed and manually sorted. Once the varied materials are separated they are further treated so the desired metals or materials can e as raw materials for further use"

What is your aim behind this initiative?

"The main aim of this initiative is to create awareness about the issue and encourage more and more people to recycle and reuse electronics. What's the worrisome is about the e - waste that is generated and it is rising to an alarming rate due to the changes of technology."

How much e - waste have you collected the last four years?

"In 2017, when I started, I collected close to 1.1 tonnes

In 2018, I formed a team with my close friends and collected over 20 tonnes

In 2020, I appealed to the student community in UAE and 60+ students from 15 different schools joined my campaign. Last year, we were able to recycled over 2,000 electronic items. I collected over 25 tonnes of e - waste from various emirates in UAE. "

What are the dangers involved in disposing of e - waste in the wrong way?
"Disposing e -waste into dustbins makes it reach our landfills where the harmful chemicals in it leach into the soil, thereby contaminating the soil and underground waster. E - waste also contains harmful and poisonous gases, which when released into air cause air pollution and harm human health. Electronics are always releasing these gases and release them in our homes too; over a period of time they can cause health issues."

Riva's 5 tips to tackle E - waste

1. When you upgrade your electronics, pass the old equipment to a person who may use it instead of discarding it. Reuse is more effective than recycling

2. If your electronic equipment is obsolete and broken, recycle it in an environmentally - friendly manner

3. Reduce the use of electronic items wherever possible.

4. Learn some basic ways to fix a broken items.

5. Look for stores that may buy old electronic items for exchange for new ones.

The electronic waste is related to litter pollution because accumulation of e - waste is causing waste everywhere. The above tips will help you to reduce e - waste in your own community.