"The Need of the Hour"
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“Global Warming, Land Pollution, Air Pollution, Ozone Depletion and whatnot!” These are some of the few things that make the headlines and are a posing threat to our Survival.

What if I told you there was one Solution that would help reduce all this to an extent unimagined? Circular Economy could be the very first stepping stone in this Direction!

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

A Circular Economy (also referred to as circularity or CE) is a model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products for as long as possible. CE aims to tackle global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution by emphasizing the design-based implementation of the three base principles of the model. The three principles required for the transformation to a circular economy are: designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems.

To give a jist-

Circular Economy is a model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products for as long as possible.

The advantage of a Circular Economy is not just that it reduces Dumping or Disposing of waste, but even that, it reduces the use of EXCESS Materials. Thus, enables us to use the limited resources for a longer time that might be used fast if we don’t use Circular Economy.

If you did not get this point through this example:-
“To make Wires we need Copper. But copper is a natural resource and the copper resources on Earth are limited. Thus, it becomes highly inefficient to always mine the metal-as it not only puts a strain on the pool of resources, but a lot of money is allocated to mining, extraction and purifying. Since copper is a Metal, and it is malleable/ductile, we can reuse the already used Copper in pre-made wires which are now but a waste and thus have a double profit!”

STARTING WITH THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG: E-WASTE

Speaking of E-waste in specific, as per pib.gov.in, in the year 2017, India reported approximately 700 Thousand Tonnes of E-Waste generation; and the number has skyrocketed to around 1.6 million Tonnes in just 4 years!

The problem isn’t with WASTE GENERATION but it is WASTE MANAGEMENT and its PROPER DISPOSAL.

Speaking of India itself, which has now become the 3rd Largest E-Waste producer, around 90% of the E-Waste is dealt with inappropriately. Selling the E-Waste to the Local Scrap Collectors(Kabbadi Wala) is where the problem begins. Since they are unskilled workers, they use the EASIEST and the MOST UNSAFE way to deal with the scrap. Burning, Shredding in the Open and Disposing of the Waste in Sewer, Open Lands, or even Burning it in Open is what seems EFFICIENT to them, but in reality, it is the worst way to deal with WASTE as it not only reduces the efficiency but also has a hazard to the one who is Disposing of waste in such format.

To us, this seems easy for what we see is OUR CONVENIENCE; but we fail to see the consequences which follow. Water Logging, Reduction in Air Quality Index, Air and Land Pollution, and Long Term-Global Warming and whatnot.

THE OTHER SIDE

It is really sad, for there are so many Companies that are actively taking steps to Collect E-Waste, and not just E-Waste, but also other wastes that are seldom managed with proper care. For example, recently I came across an Organization known as TechEco which aligns with the same goals as a Sustainable Environment, Spreading Awareness and Promoting Circular-Economy

TechEco is an Organization that looks after the overall Waste Management and Waste Dumping Recycling-primarily E-Waste, and others as well To tell about their ease and simple process-

Call by Person/Society for Collection > Pickup > Data Destruction > Collection > Safe Transport > Receipt of Materials > Dismantling> Refurbishment and Repairs > Seggregate and Shred > Recycle.

And, the best part is, although many IT Based Companies and all have to maintain some Funds to promote E-Waste Recycling and its proper disposal, this is something that is lacking in the masses, and TechEco is one of the examples of many such companies that have seen this and aims to make this a habit among the masses as well-to segregate E-Waste and dump/recycle it properly! Thus, to tackle this, TechEco even encourages Societies to come join hands with them in their mission. A society may join hands, and TechEco would establish a separate E-Waste bin, and even collect bins at regular intervals, and even provide a certificate to the society for their efforts and collaboration.

Like TechEco, there are several other campaigns, like PraanVayu which is spreading the word for proper waste disposal and management.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Now comes the most important part of the blog-WHAT IS ACTIONABLE?

“To know” is the start, but there is NO REAL START without any execution! So, many of you would now be thinking- “Yes, I agree with the Motto; I would Like to be a Part of the Change WHAT SHALL I DO? HOW CAN I CONTRIBUTE?”

Let me Quote the person who said-

“In order to change the World, we first need to change ourselves!”

Start from yourself and your home. Start with choosing to recycle over dumping, be a responsible individual who uses recyclable products, and the ones that could be easily recycled. Promote the use of such products and spread awareness in your own circle. Let your small efforts be the starting as that of the Butterfly Effect that would in turn change the overall scenario of the World.

Once done with your own family-include the society. Find Organizations that are working in the same direction and bring them in so as to distribute the work and make it smooth. Create communities that promote such things, and educate others as well so as to take the correct steps.

Of all the steps, the step that I think is the best is-

"Rather than bringing your societies and community in, try to communicate with the Organization that if possible, kindly take in the LOCAL SCRAP DEALERS. The reason is simple-let us face the bitter truth, nobody has got enough time in their lives to allocate special time for the promotion of such activities, and in the daily chaos, such things slip out of mind; eventually, the waste and scrap is handed to the Scrap Man. Thus, the Tie-Up of scrap man with the company/organization would ensure that the waste, although is collected from the Scrap Man, would eventually be processed in the most efficient and nature friendly!"

This was my Idea-comment below what you feel would be something that would be easy to Apply in the Daily Life of ours, while not deviating from the Goal!

CONCLUSION-IT ALL LIES IN YOUR HAND

No matter what blog you read, or which Seminar you attend-the last thing and the most important thing is always funneled down to one thing-”WHAT DO YOU DECIDE TO DO?”

It is completely your choice to sell the waste unsegregated to a scrap man who will inefficiently manage and dispose of the waste, which will eventually compound and show an adverse impact on the whole world-just so that you get a few bucks here and there!

Or you rather choose to be responsible, and dispose of the waste in the most efficient way which improves the overall quality of the world- or better, doesn’t worsen it; while letting go of a few bucks.

The choice is yours-choice of not throwing the waste, but your contribution towards our future!

Will see you again soon-Till then, Keep Learning, Keep Growing!