Youth-Led Change in Action: SAS Foundation’s E-Waste Drive Marks a Milestone Toward a Greener Tomorrow

At a time when our planet faces increasing environmental challenges, stories of youth-led initiatives like this bring hope and purpose. The Swavalamban Avam Swabhimaan Foundation (SAS Foundation), in collaboration with Attero, is proud to announce the incredible success of its recent e-waste collection drive, held at BPTP Park, Sector 76, Faridabad.

This event was not just about collecting unused gadgets—it was a movement led by passionate young minds, determined to take action for a more sustainable and eco-conscious India.

🌱 Mobilizing Youth for a Greener Future

The drive saw enthusiastic participation from our Green Champions—students and volunteers from:

• BGS International Public School – India
• DPS Greater Faridabad
• Lovely Professional University

These young environmental stewards demonstrated that climate leadership begins with small, consistent actions. Backed by SAS Foundation’s mission of Swavalamban (self-reliance) and Swabhimaan (self-respect), they turned a local collection campaign into a powerful example of youth-driven impact.

♻️ What We Collected

Over the course of the drive, the students and SAS team collected:

• 📱 41 Smartphones
• 📞 17 Feature Phones
• ☎️ 3 Landlines
• 💻 2 Laptops
• 🖥️ 1 Desktop Computer
• 🧠 1 CPU Unit
• 📲 1 Tablet
• ❄️ 1 Air Cooler
• 🧺 1 Washing Machine
• 🔩 42.5 kg of miscellaneous e-waste

Total e-waste collected: ~800 kg!

These numbers may seem like just statistics, but behind every collected item lies a greater truth—an old device responsibly recycled is one less item harming our environment.

🌍 Why E-Waste Matters

Electronic waste, or e-waste, is one of the fastest-growing waste streams globally. India alone generated over 3.2 million metric tonnes of e-waste in recent years, with a majority of it ending up in landfills or informal recycling sectors, often causing irreversible harm to human health and the environment.

E-waste contains toxic heavy metals like mercury, lead, cadmium, and harmful chemicals that can contaminate soil, water, and air. Recycling it responsibly not only prevents environmental damage but also supports the circular economy by recovering valuable metals for reuse.

Through this drive, our youth leaders demonstrated what awareness combined with action can achieve.

🙌 Leading with Passion and Purpose

The standout feature of this drive was not just the volume of e-waste collected, but the leadership and commitment shown by our Green Champions.

Before the event, SAS Foundation conducted a series of awareness sessions and workshops with students on:

• What e-waste is and why it’s dangerous
• How improper disposal harms the planet
• The importance of formal recycling
• How young citizens can make a real difference

Armed with this knowledge, students took charge by spreading awareness in their neighborhoods, organizing drop-off stations in their societies, and encouraging their families and friends to participate.

“This wasn’t just an internship task or a school project—it became a mission for us,” said a student from DPS Greater Faridabad.
“It made us realize that our old phones and wires could either pollute the land or power something new—it’s all about how we choose to dispose of them,” echoed another from Lovely Professional University.

💡 SAS Foundation’s Role: Enabling Change

At the heart of this movement is the Swavalamban Avam Swabhimaan Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to empowering youth, women, and communities through education, awareness, and sustainable development.

This e-waste drive was part of SAS Foundation’s broader “Green Champion” initiative, which focuses on:

• Environmental awareness
• E-waste management
• Plastic waste reduction
• Climate education
• Community engagement

By partnering with responsible recyclers like Attero, SAS Foundation ensures that collected items are disposed of through formal channels that follow environmental and safety protocols.

🔁 Impact Beyond Collection

This campaign had several ripple effects:

1. Community Engagement: Over 300 people in the locality were sensitized about e-waste through posters, door-to-door visits, and talks.
2. Youth Skill Building: Interns and student leaders gained experience in organizing events, communication, and sustainable planning.
3. Institutional Involvement: Schools and colleges became active stakeholders in environmental advocacy.
4. Circular Thinking: The campaign promoted circular economy concepts and reduced consumerism by highlighting repair, reuse, and recycling.

It’s not just about the 800 kg of e-waste we collected—it’s about the mindsets we shifted and the habits we inspired.

📢 What’s Next?

Buoyed by the success of this drive, SAS Foundation is planning a series of upcoming actions:

• 🚮 Monthly E-Waste Collection Drives across Delhi-NCR and Punjab
• 🎓 Green School Certifications for institutions that actively promote sustainability
• 📱 Youth Eco-Ambassador Programs that equip students to lead green initiatives in their communities
• 🌏 Collaborations with corporates for large-scale e-waste and plastic waste collection
• 🧠 Digital Awareness Campaigns through webinars, contests, and social media challenges

These efforts will continue to educate, inspire, and mobilize youth toward climate-conscious living and eco-action.

🙏 Our Gratitude

We extend our heartfelt thanks to:

• The students and faculty of BGS International Public School, DPS Greater Faridabad, and Lovely Professional University
• Our implementation partner Attero for ensuring safe and sustainable recycling
• The residents of BPTP Park, Faridabad, for supporting the initiative
• And the mentors and team members who continue to guide this movement, including Dr. Nitin Saini, Gaurav Agarwal, CSM, Jyotsana Sinha, and Dr. Jyoti Dongre Rao

Your belief in the power of youth, sustainability, and community action is what drives this mission forward.

🌟 Join the Movement

This initiative is just the beginning. As e-waste and environmental degradation threaten our future, it’s time we all take ownership—as students, professionals, parents, and citizens.

💬 Share this story.
♻️ Start an e-waste box at your home or school.
🌿 Be a part of our next drive.
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Together, we can build a cleaner, greener, more responsible world.