Two young women on a mission to tackle mounting threat of e-waste in Nagaland

Vibi Yhokha Sophie 
Kohima | April 21

As electronic/digital consumption increases in Nagaland, electronic wastes or e-waste is becoming a critical environmental concern in the absence of proper waste management and careless disposal of e-wastes. Electronic wastes are considered to affect both human health and environment causing pollution, soil contamination and green house emissions, while its materials containing lead, mercury, cadmium etc can cause cancer, respiratory problems, miscarriages, neurological damages and diminished IQs.

With this pressing concern in mind, e-CIRCLE, a waste management enterprise was co-founded by Sowete-ü Letro and Bendangwala Walling in 2018. According to the founders, e-CIRCLE, as an entrepreneurial venture with the concept of circular economy, is an authorised e-waste collection center under the Central Pollution Control Board.

Since its inception, the duo has collected and channelized around 50 tonnes of e-waste and conducted over 70 IEC sessions. The e-wastes collected in Nagaland are sent to e-Circle’s channel partner Hulladek Recycling Pvt Ltd, Kolkata (authorised by Central Pollution Control Board). 

“Through them, the wastes are recycled, refurbished or treated as per the guidelines provided under the e-waste management rules. All parties are authorised under the CBCB and thus, they are monitored periodically to ensure that channelization of e-waste is done in the most environmentally sound manner,” says Letro.

The first two years, according to Letro, was a beginner’s stage of ‘research on the market, waste management and the business aspect from scratch’. As soon as e-CIRCLE was picking up, COVID 19 pandemic hit the State and the duo had to restart from scratch again.

“It was a big blow but we started it with the continuous support of our associates and a combined need to tackle e-waste. We are now in our fifth year and have started providing and consulting a sustainable approach to waste management in other districts and other waste as well,” says Letro.

e-CIRCLE’s main focus is invested towards the educational institutions. “Educating the students will promise a more responsible and cleaner future,” say the founders, who have started providing consultations on sustainable approach for solid waste management to educational institutions.

While the concept of e-waste management in Nagaland is recent, Letro relays that the citizens, young and elderly, who are aware and conscious about the environment, are supportive and responsive in the dissemination of the issue as well as solutions. “There are individual who keeps choosing us to dispose their e-waste. The rest prefer to dump, burn or sell the valuable items to the informal sector,” says Letro.

The road conditions in Nagaland and high rates in logistics are major challenges which make it difficult for the enterprise to collect e-waste from other districts besides Dimapur, Chümoukedima and Kohima. Another hurdle are the local scrap dealer’s rate in exchange of the consumer’s e-waste where scrap dealers offers a higher rate to their customers selling electronic wastes, with the wastes ending up in the informal waste stream.

e-waste management needs to be prioritised
“Every individual regardless of age generates e-waste. E-waste is considered to be one of the most toxic waste due to its nature of components. A lot of mixed metals, plastic, glass and hazardous substances are used to make electronic and electrical equipment. So when it is burned or landfilled instead of recycling, refurbishing and treating properly it effects the environment and human health negatively,” stresses Letro.

E-wastes consists of any item with plugs, cords, and electronic components with the most common sources being television, mobile phones, computers, home appliances including children’s toys.

A visit to the local municipal landfill sites is a must, points out Letro, to understand the severity of Nagaland’s e-waste situation due to mismanagement and irregular management of wastes.

No inventory on E-waste for Nagaland yet
“The fact that no inventory on e-waste for the state of Nagaland has been conducted yet shows the lack of seriousness of the State. Inventory helps in identifying the waste generation projection, awareness, current method of disposal, steps and actions to tackle it based on the data collected,” expresses Letro who stressed that e-wastes need to be disposed through authorised recyclers- ethically and as per the E-waste Management Rules, 2016.

With the lack of proper waste management system, maximum amount of Nagaland’s wastes are not segregated and mostly ends up in the landfills piling up day by day.

While awareness on e-waste management needs to be built, Letro views that the “state government also has a huge gap to fill in the waste management sector in terms of research, awareness and proper channelization of waste.”

An effective e-waste management will require the combined effort of all the stakeholders, especially the local entities/ individuals already working in the sector, as well as the willingness of the citizen’s to reduce, recycle, and careful handling of e-wastes.

e-CIRCLE has collection points in various districts where an e-waste bins made of wood is installed in the following locations: St Joseph University, Chümoukedima; C-Edge College, Chümoukedima; Pranabananda Women’s College, Dimapur; Unity College, Dimapur; Synergy Systems (town); St Xavier College, Peren; Kohima Science College; Sazolie College, Jotsoma; Kros College, Kohima; Kohima College, St Joseph University, Jakhama; Rajeshwari Karuna School, Tuli.