Uniting for a Greener Tomorrow: SAS Foundation’s E-Waste Drive at Auralis Twins, Thane
In the modern digital age, we are surrounded by gadgets and electronics that make our lives easier, more connected, and more efficient. However, with this convenience comes a pressing environmental challenge: electronic waste (e-waste). Improper disposal of electronic devices not only pollutes our land and water but also poses serious health risks due to the hazardous materials they contain. In response to this growing concern, Swavalamban Avam Swabhimaan Foundation (SAS Foundation), in collaboration with Attero and JV EdTech Medovation, organized a large-scale e-waste collection drive at Auralis Twins, Thane on June 8th, 2024.
This initiative stood out not only for its tangible results—over 180 kilograms of e-waste collected—but also for its spirit of community engagement, environmental awareness, and collective action. Here’s an in-depth look at the event, the preparation behind it, its impact, and what it means for the future of sustainable e-waste management in India.
🌍 Why E-Waste Management Matters
The average household today owns several electronic devices—smartphones, laptops, tablets, chargers, printers, and more. As technology evolves, many of these items are discarded or replaced. According to global estimates, over 50 million metric tons of e-waste are generated annually. In India alone, this number continues to climb as digital access expands across urban and rural regions.
Unfortunately, a significant portion of this waste ends up in landfills or is handled by informal sectors that lack proper recycling practices. This can lead to:
Soil and groundwater contamination from toxic metals like lead, cadmium, and mercury.
Health hazards for workers handling e-waste without protective gear.
Loss of valuable materials such as copper, gold, and rare earth metals that can be recovered through proper recycling.
Events like SAS Foundation’s e-waste drive aim to bridge the gap between technology usage and responsible disposal, one community at a time.
🤝 Collaboration for a Cause
The event was a joint effort between three committed organizations:
Swavalamban Avam Swabhimaan Foundation (SAS Foundation): Known for its youth empowerment, education, environment, and community development initiatives.
Attero: India’s leading electronic asset management company, certified for sustainable and safe e-waste recycling.
JV EdTech Medovation: An educational innovation hub promoting digital literacy and environmental consciousness among students and educators.
Together, they envisioned this e-waste drive not as a standalone collection event, but as a community awareness and education campaign.
📅 Planning and Preparation
Behind the success of the Auralis Twins event was weeks of meticulous planning. Volunteer teams from SAS Foundation and JV EdTech worked in coordination with local residents, housing society leaders, and student ambassadors to:
Conduct pre-event awareness sessions to educate residents about e-waste dangers and the importance of proper recycling.
Train a team of volunteers on how to safely collect, sort, and handle different types of e-waste.
Set up interactive booths for on-the-spot collection, questions, and demonstrations.
Special emphasis was placed on reaching all age groups—from children and teenagers to adults and senior citizens—ensuring that everyone could participate and contribute.
🚮 The Collection Drive in Action
The energy on June 8th was electric. From early morning, volunteers in SAS Foundation t-shirts were setting up collection bins, registration desks, and educational posters across the Auralis Twins residential complex. The event began with a brief opening session, thanking the residents for their participation and explaining the day’s process.
Residents came forward with bags full of unused or broken gadgets—smartphones, feature phones, laptops, chargers, headphones, remotes, and even old computer parts. Each item was:
Sorted and weighed
Tagged for inventory
Placed in separate containers for safe transport to Attero’s recycling facility
In total, 180 kilograms of e-waste was collected—a remarkable figure for a single-day community event. More importantly, it reflected a shift in mindset. Families who were previously unaware of how to dispose of electronics responsibly now had firsthand experience in doing so.
👏 Acknowledging the Changemakers
A drive of this scale is only possible with the collective efforts of committed individuals. The SAS Foundation team extended its heartfelt thanks to:
Dr. Jyoti Dongre Rao, Co-founder of JV EdTech Medovation, for conceptualizing and executing the awareness sessions
Marilyn Olivera, who led the volunteer coordination and ensured a smooth flow of the event
Vaishali Dongare, Dinesh Rao, Nadeem, Jaiprakash, and Rajesh Kumar (Chairperson of Auralis Twins) for their on-ground support and guidance
Neena Kulkarni, whose motivation helped encourage resident participation
And of course, the volunteers and residents of Auralis Twins, without whom the initiative wouldn’t have been such a success
Each of these individuals played a vital role in making the event impactful and inspiring.
💡 More Than Just a Drive: An Educational Movement
What made this event special was not just the volume of e-waste collected but the awareness it generated. Children attended special storytelling sessions about pollution and climate change. Young adults learned how e-waste is processed and why it’s important to choose certified recyclers. Some residents even asked how they could set up similar drives in their offices and schools.
This ripple effect—from awareness to action—is what SAS Foundation aims to achieve in every community outreach effort.
🌱 Looking Ahead: Scaling Impact
Encouraged by the success at Auralis Twins, the Foundation plans to replicate this model across other residential societies, schools, colleges, and institutions in Mumbai and beyond. The vision is to:
Make e-waste disposal accessible and convenient
Partner with more certified recyclers and green-tech startups
Empower youth leaders and eco-clubs to organize local drives
Build a national movement for clean, responsible digital usage
With each initiative, SAS Foundation hopes to spark long-term behavioral change that supports environmental goals aligned with India’s mission for sustainability.
📢 Get Involved: Be Part of the Green Change
You don’t have to wait for the next drive to make a difference. Here’s how you can contribute right now:
Collect and store e-waste at home instead of throwing it in the dustbin
Locate and drop off at authorized e-waste collection centers
Organize awareness sessions in your society, school, or workplace
Subscribe to SAS Foundation’s newsletter to stay informed and inspired
Let’s build a future where technology and nature go hand in hand—a future where progress doesn’t come at the cost of the planet.
🌟 Final Words
The e-waste collection drive at Auralis Twins wasn’t just an environmental activity—it was a powerful symbol of what communities can achieve when they come together with purpose. As we move forward, let this event serve as a reminder and a roadmap for how collective effort, grassroots action, and awareness can lead to real, tangible environmental change.
Together, we’re not just collecting e-waste.
We’re creating awareness, fostering responsibility, and nurturing a greener tomorrow.
