Dialog Telekom launches mobile waste program

Dialog Telekom launched the first electronic (mobile) waste (M-waste) management program in Sri Lanka last week. Accordingly the company retrieved old handsets and batteries to recycle them.

Dialog launched this green initiative as one of its CSR programs. It has been combined with the company's ongoing Joy-Toy program to gift toys for needy children during the Christmas season.

Dialog Telekom has taken the lead in this M-waste recycling program while e-waste has become a significant environment concern in the country.

This will develop social and institutional consciousness on the subject and the company expects other electronic vendors to follow suit.

Company officials said that there are over seven million mobile users in the country today and the sector is growing fast. If safe disposal practices are not implemented to discard mobile phones, the batteries and accessories would contribute to a growing stream of waste in Sri Lanka.

The collected M-waste will be exported to recycling plants and the company said that the closest high standard recycling plant is in Singapore.

CEO of Dialog Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya said in the coming years millions of old handsets will be disposed and will add to environment pollution. Any form of electronic waste should be disposed of carefully.

These M-waste add chemical substances such as copper and lead. Western countries have made mistakes and we can learn lessons from them and it is opportune to launch the M-waste management program.

The company will set up m-waste collecting centres in Colombo, Wennapuwa,Badulla and Kurunegala and pay Rs.25 per handset and Rs.10 per battery. People can return any handset, company officials said.