CERO conducts E-Waste collection drive at Gurgaon to promote Responsible Recycling
The five-day initiative by CERO and Karo Sambhav encouraged students, faculty and staff to dispose of old electronics through authorised recycling channels.
As electronic devices become part of everyday life, what happens to them when they stop working or are no longer needed remains an important waste-management question. Mobile phones, chargers, laptops and other electronic accessories contain materials that may be recovered, but their end-of-life handling requires appropriate collection and recycling systems.
At MDI Gurgaon, a five-day e-waste collection drive held from October 10 to 14 sought to encourage more responsible disposal practices among students, faculty and staff. Organised by the institution’s Centre for Ethics, Responsible Organisations & ESG Initiatives (CERO), in collaboration with Karo Sambhav, the drive was conducted in connection with International E-Waste Day.
Members of the campus community were encouraged to deposit unused and non-functional electronic equipment at designated collection points. The collected material will be channelled to Karo Sambhav for recycling and disposal through authorised processes, according to the organisers.
The collection covered a broad range of items, including mobile phones, laptops, desktops, cables, chargers, monitors, printers, routers, tablets, smartwatches, cameras, gaming devices and other electronic accessories. Small electrical appliances such as trimmers, hair dryers, irons and steamers were also accepted.
The initiative highlighted the importance of directing discarded electronics into formal collection systems rather than treating them as ordinary waste. Such systems can help ensure that electronic products are handled through appropriate processes and that recoverable materials can be reclaimed.
Data security was another focus of the drive. Participants were advised to remove SIM and memory cards where applicable and delete personal or confidential information before handing over their devices. Factory-resetting phones, laptops and other devices with storage capabilities was also recommended wherever possible.
Prof. Sunil Ashra, Co-Chairperson of CERO at MDI Gurgaon, said the initiative was intended to build awareness and make responsible e-waste disposal more accessible through collaboration with Karo Sambhav.
The drive brought together an educational institution and an e-waste management organisation to promote collection and recycling within a campus setting. However, the press release does not specify how much e-waste was collected, how many participants took part or what proportion of the material will ultimately be recovered for reuse or recycling.
These figures would help assess the initiative’s material impact beyond awareness-building. For now, the drive underscores a practical step in e-waste management: providing people with an accessible way to pass on unwanted electronics through authorised channels.
