1. Every day, people from all over the world discard around 123,000 MT of damaged, obsolete or simply unwanted electrical and electronic devices. (Source: http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/study-helps-italy-at-solving-the-e-waste-problem)

2. Every year India generates 12.5 lakh MT of e-Waste. Bangalore alone accounts for 57000 tons. Only 5% of this e-Waste is recycled by the formal/authorized sector. (Source:http://www.assocham.org/prels/shownews-archive.php?id=4476) Formal Recycling Sector Informal Recycling Sector

3. It is a matter of great concern that India is fast becoming the world’s dump yard for e-Waste. With e-waste from several parts of the world being brought to the Delhi-NCR region, it is expected that this area alone is likely to generate 95000 MT of e-Waste per annum by 2017 (http://www.deccanchronicle.com/ 140812/nation-current- affairs/article/indias-capital- becoming-worlds-e-waste-dumping- yard-says) About 4.5 Million children are engaged in dismantling e- Waste. Pics: Sangrampur, West Bengal: Handling e-waste dumped by developed countries is a way of life for people in this remote hamlet. (http://pulitzercenter.org/reporting/asia-india- electronic-waste-toxic-environment)

4. E-Waste Health Hazard Beryllium (Human Carcinogen) Lead (Kidney, nervous & reproductive systems, impair development of children and fetuses) Mercury (Brain & Kidney damage, impaired growth of fetus and can be passed in breast milk) Chromium (DNA damage and bronchitis) BFRs (Hormonal imbalance, Bio- magnification in breast milk, reduced fetal growth) Cadmium (Bio- concentration, Kidney damage and harm fragile bones) Plastics (Dioxins and Furans) Phosphor (Severe burns, respiratory illness) Barium (Brain swelling, muscle weakness, damage to heart, liver and spleen)

5. As per the study conducted by Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI): 1 ton of scrap from discarded computers contains more gold than what can be produced from 17 tons of gold ore!!. E-Waste is also a Mine of Precious Resources

6. The increased life span of mobile phones in India is largely thanks to India’s prolific ‘grey market’ for second hand mobile phones. The informal e-waste repair and refurbishment industry plays a significant role in the longevity of the mobile phone in India. Upgrading the informal sector is essential for effective e-waste management in India. In Western countries the average life-span of a mobile phone is just 22 months. The life-span of a mobile phone in India is 6-8 years, perhaps longer than anywhere else in the world.

7. Saahas understands the significance of the informal e-Waste recycling sector. Saahas worked in association with the Indo- German-Swiss initiative to upgrade the informal sector which is actively engaged in e-Waste recycling. Saahas is the implementing partner for ‘Establishing e-Waste Channels to Enhance Environment Friendly Recycling (WEEE-Recycle)’ programme.

8. Saahas has set up several e- waste collection centres across Bangalore. To ensure that your e-waste is safely recycled, drop it at the Saahas collection centre closest to you.

9. Saahas e-Waste Collection Centres Kasa Rasa 1: Premises of Hot Mix Plant, Koramangala 6 th Block, Ejipura. Timings: 10 am -6 pm. (Sunday closed) Kasa Rasa 2: High Tension Wire ground, Koramangala 5 th Block, Near Hotel Empire. Timings: 10 am -6 pm. (Sunday closed) Saahas Office: #433, 8 th Cross, Jayanagar 1 st Block, Bangalorre – 560011. Timings: 9.30am -6.30pm (Monday to Friday), 9.30 am-4.30 pm (Saturday), Sunday closed. City Central Library: East Zone, 1 st Main Road, R.T.Nagar, Bangalore-560032. Timings: 8.30 am – 7.30 pm (closed on Mondays and 2 nd Tuesdays) Koramangala 3 rd Block, RWA Library, Inside Park, behind Post Office, Between 10 th and 12 th Main (Ward 151). Timings: 5 am-11 am and 4pm-7pm Hippocampus Library: 525, 16 th Main, Koramangala 3 rd Block, Bangalore 560034. Timings: 10 am-7 pm (Monday closed) Mother Earth: 541-543, Amarjyoti HSBC, Opposite Dell, intermediate Ring Road, Domlur, Bangalore. Timings: 11 am-9pm

10. Saahas along with EMC2 has also launched an awareness programme for school children ‘Responsible Recycling of e-Waste’, to channelize the e-waste from the household sector to authorized recyclers via schools. Nearly 100 schools from Bangalore will be part of this initiative over the next 2 years. Do check out this video by Saahas on e-waste at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZUfePBqJkY