Author: instacash

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E-Waste — the Toxic Legacy of our Digital Age

Countries, developed and developing alike, are faced with the flip side of development. Societies have adapted to technologies in big ways however the requisite awareness and legal framework needs to be spruced up in consonance with the fast pace fallout of technological residues that we are leaving behind. Some years back, the waste wasn’t much and was thought to have been easily assimilated in the environment. Today it poses a great challenge. The rapid penetration of the electronics and electrical gadgets in the huge markets of developing world and the steep pace of technological innovations making yesterday’s latest devices obsolete in the developed world. This has led to the problem of disposing off the e-waste responsibly in sync with the environment we live and for the future we look at.

“Update: ZeroWaste is now InstaCash”

The innocuous looking gadgets that we use in our daily life contain elements and compounds which are very harmful to our well being. A broad categorization of these substances inimical to our health can be done as Halogenated Compounds, Heavy & other Metals and Radio Active substances.

Halogenated compounds like CFC (Choloroflourocarbon) PCB (Polychlorinated biphenyls) are present in Cooling units, insulation foams, cable insulations, fire retardants for plastics, condensers, transformers. Heavy metals like Arsenic, Barium, Beryllium, Cadmium, Chromium, Lead, Lithium, Mercury, Nickel, Zinc Sulphide, and Selenium etc are found in CRTs, LEDs, rechargeable batteries, toners, power supply boxes etc. Radio Active substance like Americum is an integral part of medical equipments and fire detectors.

Today we find ourselves awfully placed. As we are making our lives easier and comfortable with the modern electrical and electronic gadgets yet on the other hand we are leaving a toxic legacy. If we do not wake up now, the future will not forgive us for our past. Join ZeroWaste movement in making a healthy and beautiful future.

Note: This post was originally published in February 2015 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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Phone-throw and junk-dunk: Games to fight E-WASTE

How far can you throw your old mobile phone to save the environment?

“Update: ZeroWaste is now InstaCash”

Throwing away old and unused electronics as rubbish or scrap is the beginning of the e-waste problem. It’s a big problem. How do you tell everyone that throwing is bad? Simple. Get them to throw their old and unused mobile phones for a good cause. That’s precisely what Jaipur based startup ZeroWaste did with their “Phone Throwing Championship” and “Junk Dunk” Tournament at the recently concluded tech-fest PLINTH 2015 at LNM Institute of Information Technology, Jaipur.

Phone throwing is simple. ZeroWaste asked participants to bring their old/unused phones and throw them as far as they could or as uniquely as they wished. For safety while throwing the phones were wrapped up tightly with Cellotape so that they wouldn’t shatter and litter the ground. Winners were chosen on the basis of maximum distance thrown (just as in any athletic competition like discus, shot put and javelin or the old school favourite –cricket ball throw).

ZW collected all the phones used by the participants, paid cash rewards for theirold phones and made a 5 min presentation on how a simple decision to exchange your waste/unused/old electronics items for cash at an authorized ewaste collection outlet (ZW has 30+ centers) can make a huge difference to the fight against e-waste in India.

About 500 participants tried their hands at Phone Throw and 3 winners were chosen in each Men, Women and Freestyle categories. While the winners were rewarded with Goodies and T-Shirts, poor performers were “dared” by spectators to do something embarrassing, wacky, funny or all three!

Since E-Waste is not just about mobile phones, ZW invented a unique game called Junk-Dunk. Basically it is Basketball with 4 baskets that we made out of Junk washing machines. Each team had two baskets to shoot at and two to defend. Small tinkering with rules and people went crazy, playing for hours without break.

Participants pledged to join hands with ZeroWaste in making Jaipur the first E-waste free city in the country. Student delegate from Brazil, Pedro Rorato, admitted that like India, Brazil is also lacking the required e-waste recycling ecosystem and public awareness is the key to ensure 100% recycling.

Indians currently generates about 1.5 Million tonnes of waste electronics annually and it will rise exponentially as India bridges its “Digital Divide”. Sensing higer demand for cheap consumer electronics, companies are flooding the market with “designed to dump” products having shorter life and low-grade plastics.

ZeroWaste is upbeat about spreading the word of “buy one recycle one” to millions of Indians who enjoy the fun of modern electronics and technology upgrades but are clueless when it comes to understanding how the ewaste problem is a time bomb ticking under our very noses.

Says Prateek Goel and Sunil Saradhna, founders of ZeroWaste, “We hope to organise a state level and then a national phone throwing event in the coming year and generate huge awareness about responsible e-waste disposal especially among teenagers and youth.”

Way to go !!

To know more Connect with us today at info@getinstacash.in | www.getinstacash.in

Note: This post was originally published in February 2015 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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6 Responsibilities of Electronic Brands you should know

Cheap mobiles and electronic devices have caught the fancy of us all. Coming in various sizes and shapes these offer unbelievable features at most astonishing prices. Though very attractive yet some of them remain unguaranteed not only in their materials being used and also in safety features. Until now Indian markets were dumped with goods which could have played with our lives and environment.

“Update: ZeroWaste is now InstaCash”

As a growing nation we need to guard against electronic and electrical items getting into our lives and becoming hazardous to our very existence. The only way to do it is to be aware of the roles and responsibilities of Electronic and Electrical producers and remove any deleterious products getting entry into the markets.

To safe guard the environment and ensure proper disposal of E-Waste, Government has brought in the concept of “Extended Producers Responsibility” under “E-Wastes Rules 2011”. All producers of Electronic and Electrical Equipment in India who manufacture and sell are made responsible for their products beyond manufacturing to ensure environmentally sound management of their end of life products.

Let us understand who are Electronics and Electronic Equipment Producers and their responsibilities.

The rules define an EEE Producer as any person who, irrespective of the selling technique used, undertakes the following actions

  • manufactures and offers to sell electrical and electronic equipment under his own brand; or
  • offers to sell under his own brand, assembled electrical and electronic equipment produced by other manufacturers or suppliers; or
  • offers to sell imported electrical and electronic equipment;

Responsibilities of Producers

  1. Collection of e-waste generated from the ‘end of life’ of their products in line with the principle of ‘Extended Producer Responsibility’ (EPR), or generated during manufacturing of electrical and electronic equipment and channelization of such waste to registered dismantler or recyclers.
  2. Setting up collection centers or take back systems either individually or collectively
  3. Financing and organizing a system to meet the costs involved in the environmentally sound management of e-waste generated from the ‘end of life’ of its own products and historical waste available on the date from which these rules come in to force. The financing arrangement of such a system shall be transparent.
  4. The producer may choose to establish such financial system either individually or collectively by joining a collective scheme.
  5. to facilitate return of used electrical and electronic equipment by providing contact details such as address, telephone numbers/helpline number of authorized collection centers to consumer(s) or bulk consumer(s)
  6. creating awareness through publications, advertisements, posters, or by any other means of communication and information booklets accompanying the equipment, with regard to:
  • information on hazardous constituents as detailed in sub-rule 1 of rule 13 in EEE
  • information on hazards of improper handling, accidental breakage, damage and/or improper recycling of e-waste
  • instructions for handling the equipment after its use, along with the Do’s and Don’ts
  • affixing a visible, legible and indelible symbol on the products or information booklets to prevent e-waste from being dropped in garbage bins

Next time you buy an electronic item be sure you buy from a complying producer who respects the environment, law and your health. Let’s be a little #Responsible ourselves.

To know more Connect with us today at info@getinstacash.in |www.getinstacash.in

Note: This post was originally published in January 2015 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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3 things that make us E-waste culprits

Inadvertently and with no firm understanding on the e-waste most of us tend to be unmindful of the evils of e-waste. E-waste as a problem is growing every day and if not checked today it would face us starkly with its harmful ill effects to our health and environment. 15 million metric tonnes of e-waste is generated every year in a developing country like India. Sensing the burgeoning numbers that would be added in the future all countries including India have put various legislations to contain if not mitigate the damaging effects E-waste would cause. Containing poisonous substances e-waste disposal warrant careful handling. Since we all use electronics and electrical appliances we need to be also responsible in their handling when they aren’t useful to us anymore.

“Update: ZeroWaste is now InstaCash”

We all are accountable and have to be responsible towards our future. Pretty laid back in our approach we run the risk of becoming E-waste culprits ourselves ruining our today and tomorrow. There are 3 ways that make us E-waste Culprits:

  1. 1. Being an E-Waste Sleeper
  2. 2. Discarding / dumping e-waste at wrong places
  3. 3. Selling e–waste to kabadiwala

We have to understand that these equipment have a life and if these are not making any utility sense then it would be our duty not to let the e-waste accumulate at our places. In their productive life these are friends but at the end they are nasty foes so care has to be shown in their disposal. In no circumstances these should be thrown as garbage in and around our areas of inhabitation or elsewhere. It is also very wrong to sell these articles to the usual kabadiwalas or scrap dealers. They lack the understanding and scientific methods to handle toxic elements inherent to these wastes.

Fortunately we have ZeroWaste a company which is all geared and constituted for the great mission to clear up all the E-wastes which lie in our closets and cabinets. It also offers money for the gadgets you give to it. The amount received would be as per the best salvage value and moreover relieves us from the piles of waste littering our closet, tables and racks responsibly.

Note: This post was originally published in January 2015 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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Lets Include Electronic Waste in Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

“Be the change you wish to see in the world” — Mahatma Gandhi

“Update: ZeroWaste is now InstaCash”

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” — Charles Darwin

First of all I thank our Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, for starting Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and calling the people to participate in creating a clean India beyond politics.

India is aiming towards becoming an economic superpower and in such circumstances cleanliness becomes more logical. A clean home is more hospitable to its visitors and subsequently brings greater investment to Indian economy. Cleanliness directly promotes social growth and economic activity.

The Prime Minister’s call for Digital India has created great enthusiasm among people of India as well as abroad. Digital infrastructure, delivery of services and digital literacy are the aims of Digital India and electronic inclusion of people will strengthen Indian democracy with highly accountable and transparent government. It is evident that this electronic inclusion will gear up the generation of electronic waste with computers, laptops, mobile phones and other telecommunication equipment as major source of E-Waste.

E-waste consists of waste electrical & electronic equipment that are to be discarded. India generates about 1.5 Million tonnes of E-waste each year. UN predicted that by 2020 e-waste from computers would jump by 500 percent and from discarded mobile phones would be 18 times higher than 2007 level in India. Electronic waste itself does not cause direct damage to us but unscientific processing of this scrap is detrimental to human health and wellbeing.

WHO in its E-Waste and Child Health Initiative report has warned about these consequences of e-waste. National Green Tribunal has also expressed similar concern about e-waste causing broad spectrum of ecological damage. Therefore, its about time that e-waste be managed through environmentally sound processes causing least harm to human health and environment and checking its diversion to landfills or incineration plants.

Indian government has recognised the problem of e-waste and has made E- waste (Management & handling), Rules, 2011 but due to lack of proper awareness among the private and government bodies the problem is being ignored. The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan puts focus on awareness and aims to ensure 100% collection and scientific processing/disposal reuse/recycle of Municipal Solid Waste. Therefore, its only logical that Electronic Waste is included in this campaign. This will generate awareness among citizens and will ensure proper management of e-waste.

I started this petition because I want the e-waste problem to be included in Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to minimize damage to human health and environment.

Please join us in calling our Prime Minister to include the E-Waste in Swachh Bharat Abhiyan for a responsible Electronic Democracy and YES!!!! for a better tomorrow.

Note: This post was originally published in January 2015 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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GREENOMICS

If we count the cost of Fresh air, Clean water and Green forests, Going green is the most profitable thing mankind can ever do.

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Why you should not sell Electronic Waste as the usual RADDI (waste).

We all have Raddi or the waste paper and items in our house which we collect and dispose it off to the raddiwala or the kabadiwala who knocks our door every Sunday without fail. Haggling over the price every time, our egos feel good to have garnered the best bargain. The raddiwala makes a living selling it to the scrap dealers who in turn send the paper, cardboard and metal for recycling and reuse.

“Update: ZeroWaste is now InstaCash”

However there is a caveat. If your raddi or waste isn’t the usual paper, card board, plastic or metal then you should be a little careful. Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipement such as your discarded mobiles, computer peripherals, terminals and monitors, your old television set, remote controls, florescent tubes, air-conditioner, geysers and refrigerators amongst others need special handling in terms of collection, disposal and to recycle and reuse it.

WEEE or E-Waste as it is technically known has to be processed scientifically which the usual scarp dealers are ill equipped to do so. With their crude and unscientific methods not only they put themselves and their workers at great peril but also throw it at places making our earth and environment polluted. The untrained and unorganized scrap dealers or the kabadiwalas resort to burning the circuit board, acid stripping, cable burning in open, CRT cracking & dumping. These waste electronic and electrical equipment contain toxic and carcinogenic elements with immense potential to get back to us through water and air. E-Wastes contain Lead, Mercury, Cadmium and flame retardants that cause multiple toxic problems.

ZeroWaste as an authorized e-waste collector has meticulously put in place scientific process which collects and sends to authorized e-waste handlers to be efficiently reused and recycled and even disposed off causing the least damage to our environment. It not only very responsibly manages the process but also offers the customers great prices for your equipment.

Zero Waste Process — The responsible way.

So next time you would like to sell the discarded electronic and electrical equipment sell it to ZeroWaste and be responsible and do your part in saving our precious environment and earth.

Note: This post was originally published in January 2015 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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“Be a proud e-waste hero” — a “natak” at a “nukkad” near you!!

Maybe you’ve seen them, maybe you will soon.Spreading the word of responsible e-waste recycling are Raju, Pranay and team; the young heroes from the theater troupe. Passionate about our cause and doing their bit for a safe environment, the group is staging “nukkad nataks” (street plays) across Jaipur inviting the audience to join Zerowaste in our mission to make Rajasthan India’s first zero e-waste state.

“Update: ZeroWaste is now InstaCash”

ZeroWaste Nukkad Natak @ Crystal Palm

ZeroWaste Nukkad Natak @ GT Bazaar

ZeroWaste Nukkad Natak @ SV Public School, Adarsh Nagar

We’ve realized that the biggest problem in e-waste disposal is the fact that no one really believes that they have any e-waste at home in the first place. Look around your house and the chances are that somewhere in some corner there are lots of discarded electronic items — great when they worked, forgotten when they don’t. Yet no one’s ready to let go. One fine day they’ll just end up on a rubbish heap or be sold off as scrap to someone not qualified to dispose them off properly. That’s where the e-waste problem begins.

Don’t store, don’t help add to e-waste. Be responsible and recycle it through someone qualified. Zerowaste is there to help you. Together we can make a difference.

Visit: www.zerowaste.co.in

And if you get a chance to see the nukkad natak do clap for the young actors who are working hard to make a difference to the world that we live in.

Happy recycling!!

Note: This post was originally published in December 2014 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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2 things you should do when surrounded with E–Waste

The gradual but enormous variety and number of electronic and electrical gadgets that are being used in our daily lives have made our lives e-lives. Lives as e-lives cannot be thought without dependence on electronic appliances and applications anymore. Moreover the importance cannot be stressed any less of adopting better gadgets, with newer upgrades and features replace even the ones that have not outlived their utility as yet. The developing countries are besotted with increasing e-penetration into areas and segments hitherto not known to have had any penchant for technology. The developed world on the other hand adds newer versions of the gadgets. The rate at which the new technology replacing the not so old tech is indeed astonishing similarly developing countries play out as huge untapped markets for introduction in any form and at any stage technology.

“Update: ZeroWaste is now InstaCash”

While we are stuffing our homes and work places with Electronic and Electrical Equipments (EEE) we are faced with a strange conundrum. At the end of their lives or when we buy or are gifted with new gadgets we are surrounded with old, damaged, discarded, old version of our once very useful gadgets, now termed as E — waste or Waste Electronic and Electronic Equipments. What do we do with these left-over? Where do we dispose them off? Is there any agency which takes them in?

Well you need to just take these two steps when confronted with these questions:

  1. Collect: Collect and segregate the E-wastes that you have in your homes and offices in to various categories like old & damaged.
  2. Contact: Get in touch with an authorized e-waste handler which offers to dispose off the e-waste in eco friendly manner and is in accordance with the laws.

Zero Waste is an efficient and authorized e-waste handler which not only takes up the challenge of assimilating in the present system all our e-wastes through refurbishing, re-use and recycle and also collaborates with other authorized e-waste handlers for their dismantling and landfill processes.

Another very important reason for you to contact Zero Waste is that it offers the best price possible for all the e-waste that you hand it over. The company also offers smart exchange options at select electronics outlets in Jaipur.

This way you not only earn on the e-waste but also become a responsible citizen.

Note: This post was originally published in December 2014 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.