Champions Against E-waste

The inaugural Youth Eco Summit at the Siri Fort Auditorium took place in collaboration with esteemed organisations, including the United Nations, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Climate Change (MoEF) and the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). The summit was held to build awareness about sustainable e-waste management. Distinguished humanitarian and actor Sonu Sood graced the summit, which showcased a lineup of personalities representing various entities. The event witnessed participation from more than 200 schools in the Delhi-NCR region, with a central focus on the theme of e-waste management during its inaugural edition.

Dr Harveen Kaur underscored the critical role of knowledge and awareness in cultivating individuals as eco-warriors essential for our planet's wellbeing. She outlined key measures to facilitate manufacturers and recyclers in implementing effective waste management practices. She further elaborated on the implementation of a 'control and command' framework adopted by certain smart cities. This approach involves comprehensive monitoring of all waste streams, including biomedical and electronic waste, with mechanisms in place to track vehicle numbers and driver details.

Addressing the global e-waste problem, Pankaj Bajaj, Founder, Bajaj Foundation, emphasised the importance of students in addressing the escalating global e-waste crisis and shaping a more sustainable future. He informed about a recently launched programme called ‘Beyond Tech’ running in schools, holding awareness programmes, involving children in various competitions and motivating children to understand e-waste and be more responsible in handling it.

"We are enthusiastic about building a brighter and more harmonious world, with an increasing number of youth participants participating each year to grow the summit. The remarkable response we have received this year is commendable, and we aspire to elevate it to a national level in the coming years," discussing the future prospects of the Youth Eco Summit, Bajaj remarked.

Darin Farrant, Director, United Nations Information Centre, highlighted the severity of the environmental condition growing all around the globe and how it is only getting worse. Piles of discarded computers, phones, televisions and other technology are creating mountains of toxic waste. He shared his hope for this generation to bring about behavioural change in the environment. “The young population is far more aware, taking up the battle now and trying to bring about change themselves,” he added.

Actor and humanitarian Sonu Sood also participated in a panel discussion, 'One World, One Family: Community, Industry, and Government'. He emphasised the importance of spreading conscious education and awareness for responsible e-waste management, besides accentuating the collaborative effort needed to achieve this. "We should hammer environment conservation learning on a regular basis to teach children and make it happen in real terms,” he added.

Arijit Talapatra, CEO, TECNO Mobiles, stressed the collective responsibility of managing e-waste and foresees the opportunity for a new market for waste management infrastructure. He said that the opportunity lies in how you educate and make them aware of disposal methods and where to dispose. "We are glad to be able to connect with the young students and recognise that reaching out to the youth is a necessity, as they represent the future. We believe in constant evolution & education and that all small steps matter,” he added.

Abhiir Bhalla, a passionate youth environmentalist, shared insights into his impactful journey in environmental conservation. He highlighted the challenge posed by the growing tendency to accumulate electronic devices, emphasising the need for responsible disposal due to the harmful gases they emit. He stated that there has been significant progress in environmental protection at the school and college levels, with the emergence of active participation through dedicated environmental clubs. He underscored the positive trend of individuals leveraging their creativity to repurpose waste materials, effectively raising awareness across various platforms.

India, as the world's third-largest producer of e-waste, faces a critical challenge with electronic waste surging from 700,000 metric tonnes in FY18 to 1.6 million metric tonnes in FY22. The first Youth Eco Summit served as a platform for empowering young minds with knowledge to actively contribute to sustainable e-waste management, ecological restoration and environmental impact.