Poster for social media campaign
Environmental conservation is a cause I deeply care about. I've always been actively involved in school events and was even chosen as the e-warrior representative at school. To further this cause, my friends Panth Patel, Devarsh Kshatri, and I organized an e-waste collection drive in our small town of Anand.
Anand lacks proper infrastructure for e-waste recycling, with the nearest authorized recycling units located in Ahmedabad or Vadodara. Sadly, about 95% of India's e-waste is recycled by unauthorized units or kabadiwalas, using non-scientific methods and often involving child labor, posing serious environmental and health hazards.
To address this issue, during Diwali, when people traditionally clean their homes and dispose of unused items, we initiated our collection drive. We spread awareness through posters and messages on WhatsApp groups, encouraging our community to participate.
Additionally, we conducted an e-survey to assess e-waste management practices in industries within Anand-Kheda District. We mailed Google forms to all the industries in the District and also connected with them on phone calls to ensure better response.
Our efforts paid off, as we received overwhelming support from the community. Each of us first stored the waste in our backyards, before finally collecting the entire waste in a community hall. We managed to collect approximately 2 tonnes of e-waste in less than a month. Mr. Ankit Patel, an eminent environmentalist guided us through the entire drive. He also helped us ensure the waste was sent to an authorized recycling unit in Ahmedabad.
While the environmental impact of this project may have been minimal, its significance to us was profound. It provided an avenue for enhancing our communication and social abilities, bringing enjoyment, fulfillment, and a boost to our self-esteem into our lives.
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