Schools in Andhra Pradesh to conduct e-waste collection drive on October 28

The Andhra Pradesh School Education Department will conduct the concluding activities of ‘Special Campaign 6 – E-Waste Collection’ in all government and private schools and junior colleges across the State on October 28 under the Eco Clubs for Mission LiFE programme.

Director of School Education and In-charge State Project Director of Samagra Shiksha A. Thameem Ansariya said on Saturday that the initiative was being implemented in accordance with the Union Ministry of Education’s guidelines to promote environmental awareness and responsible waste management among students.

Schools have been instructed to conduct a special quiz on e-waste management, reuse and safe disposal during the morning assembly on October 28. Headmasters and headmistresses must also submit answers to the questions available on the designated web portal through the prescribed link.

Students will be encouraged to bring unused or damaged electronic items from home, including old devices, cables, chargers and mobile phones, and deposit them in designated black boxes at e-waste collection corners in schools.

The collected material must be sent through the prescribed channel to the Mandal Education Office for collection by authorised recyclers. The department has directed schools to hand over e-waste only to recyclers or refurbishers authorised by the Central Pollution Control Board or the State Pollution Control Board. Handing it over to unauthorised scrap dealers is strictly prohibited.

Officials said authorised recyclers had been identified at the field level and their contact details communicated to the authorities concerned. Schools have also been instructed to follow safety precautions and ensure that students and staff do not dismantle hazardous electronic items such as batteries, CRT monitors, LED bulbs and CFL bulbs.

All government and private schools must upload details of the e-waste collected to the Eco Clubs portal through their respective Eco Club Coordinators by October 27.

Ms. Ansariya urged headmasters, teachers, parents, students and Eco Club Coordinators to participate actively in the campaign. The initiative aims to instil environmental responsibility among students and promote the safe collection, handling and disposal of electronic waste.