1722.68 kg of E-waste collected to be recycled through authorised recyclers
A year-long initiative aimed at promoting sustainable environmental practices among school children, launched under “SDG Innovation Participatory Action Research Initiative 2.0” and spearheaded by the Department of Planning, officially concluded on Monday.
The yearlong project was implemented by local e-waste management enterprise “e-Circle”, state’s lone authorised E-waste collector. Speaking with Nagaland Post, e-Circle co-founder Bendangwalla Walling disclosed that the project titled “E-Waste Management: Awareness–Advocacy – Recycling” covered 30 schools in and around Chümoukedima from June 2024 to June 2025, where, as part of the project, awareness sessions were conducted in schools to educate students and staff on the growing environmental threat posed by electronic waste.
She said each participating school was also equipped with a dedicated E-waste bin to promote responsible disposal practices, and encourage active participation from students and their families. On the take-away from the yearlong activity, she emphasised urgent behavioural change, starting from the grassroots level.
She claimed that Nagaland generated a considerable amount of E-waste, but awareness on its impact and proper disposal was still very low.
“Through this project, we are not only setting up infrastructure such as E-waste bins, but also focusing on mindset transformation. We believe children in schools can become powerful agents and act as ambassadors for change within their families and communities,” she elaborated.
Walling also shared that the initiative was designed not merely as a collection drive, but as a community-driven movement that involved hands on learning, student engagement activities, and collaboration with local recyclers to ensure safe and sustainable processing of collected E-waste.
Dwelling further on the project implementation, e-Circle co-founder Sowete Letro told this reporter that apart from awareness sessions and placing of E-waste bin in 30 schools, the schools conducted regular collection drives on E-waste, while competitions for students on poster making and essays were also held, where winners received cash prize and citations.
She revealed that altogether 5,276 students and staff from the 30 schools were sensitised on E-waste management, and that a total of 1,722.68 kg of E-waste collected from the schools would be recycled through certified retailers.