2023-06-07
Nepal’s First and Biggest E-waste Exhibition
On the occasion of World Environment Day on June 4th, 2023, Doko Recyclers organized Nepal’s first ever e-waste exhibition with the theme “Responsibly manage your e-waste for a sustainable future” at the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) in Khumaltar, Lalitpur. The event's primary goals were to gather all relevant stakeholders and educate the public about the potential of reusing, repairing, recycling, redesigning, and rethinking electrical and electronic devices.
The event was divided into two sections: A seminar along with an exhibition
E-waste Seminar
A seminar to create awareness among policymakers on the need for rules, regulations, guidelines, and acts on the manufacture and management of e-products and e-waste was organized with relevant stakeholders. The seminar was chaired by Er. Ganesh Shah, former Minister of Environment, Science, and Technology, along with Chief Guest Mr. Nawa Raj Dhakal, Executive Director of the Alternative Energy Promotion Center (AEPC). Discussions were conducted on the scope and urgency of waste material recovery for the cyclic economy of electrical and electronic waste and its management. Mr. Sher Singh Bhat, Vice Chairman of the Nepal Energy Foundation, presented on the trend of global gross energy supply throughout the years and the electricity industry being the main source of e-waste. Mr. Purushottam Ghimire, Senior Policy Advisor of Sustainable Prosperity Initiative Nepal, emphasized the need for e-waste management, as this has started showing its effect globally and will be a national challenge in the near future.
E-waste Exhibition
The exhibitors included major electronic distributors like Him Electronics, CG Digital, Big Digital, Super Soco (e-bike) and Sabko Phone. The e-waste exhibition also featured sustainability brands promoting recycled and upcycled products, including eco-friendly clothing, accessories, decor items, and stationery. Brands like Rekriti, Eco Saathi Nepal, Deego Nepal, Nhu Designs, and many more showcased their products. Additionally, companies specialising in electronics exchange allowed attendees to trade in their old electronics for newer models, promoting reuse and reducing e-waste.
Key Highlights:
1. E-waste collection drive
Doko Recyclers set up an e-waste collection drive in housing areas - Sunrise Towers, Sunrise Apartments, and Westar Housing to encourage residents to dispose of their electronic waste. This initiative aimed to make e-waste recycling more convenient and accessible for the public. Collection drives were also set up in different client’s offices to raise awareness within the organization. The response was overwhelming, and numerous organisations actively participated in this initiative, demonstrating their commitment to environmental sustainability.
2. E-Waste Mountain Drive:
With the collected electronic waste, an e-waste mountain was built for the visual representation of the general public to create a realization of the amount of discarded electronics piling up in our country.
3. Bulb-eater and Wire Stripper Demonstration:
A Bulb-eater and wire stripper were put up for demonstration for the public to test and use. This demonstration showcased an innovative and safe way to dispose of light bulbs and the correct method of recycling electrical wires.
4. Rage Room
An interesting and unique setup was created for attendees to have an interactive and engaging experience where they could break and smash keyboards, mouse and other discarded electronics. The ‘Rage Room’ activity was conducted with proper safety gear provided to the attendees, primarily helping them to understand that unusable items need to be disposed of and not stacked in their homes unnecessarily.
5. Live Learning Sessions to Repair Old Devices:
Participants had the opportunity to attend a live learning session where they could learn how to repair old electronic devices. These sessions aimed to promote the concept of repairing and reusing electronics, emphasising the importance of extending the lifespan of products to minimise e-waste generation.
6. Storyboard Presentation
The storyboard presentation featured 15 storyboards, aiming to educate students and the audience about e-waste management, showcase projects by Doko Recyclers, and highlight the theme of the event. These storyboards provided information on responsible e-waste disposal, potential hazards, and recycling practices. Storyboards also illustrated Doko Recyclers' initiatives, achievements, and growth over the years.
7. Other Games and activities
Games organised by Doko Recyclers representatives involved the segregation of mixed recyclables. Students from different schools participated in this game, where they had to sort out a mixture of waste and place each item in the appropriate compartment of a three-compartment dustbin. The objective was to segregate the waste quickly and correctly. Winners were rewarded with gift hampers by Doko Recyclers.
The event successfully engaged the audience and helped to promote responsible e-waste disposal, encourage a culture of reducing, reusing, and recycling, and educate the public about the environmental impact of e-waste. The overall goal was to instill a sense of environmental consciousness in everyone who participated.