A start-up offers cash rewards in exchange for e-waste to encourage more people to recycle, writes Balqis Lim
OUR appetite for electronics is growing by the day. Appliances like air conditioners keep us cool on a hot day and smartphones connect us to the digital world.
The number of new innovations keeps growing and although these devices have many benefits, they are also contributing to a huge problem — the growing pile of e-waste.
A start-up called ERTH, which stands for E-waste Recycling Through Heroes, is determined to tackle this issue.
Founded last September by Mohamed Tarek El-Fatatry and his wife, Nahed Bedir Eletribi, the couple, having done their research on e-waste, are hoping to encourage others to adopt proper recycling habits.
RISING PROBLEM
The World Economic Forum estimates a staggering 50 million tonnes of e-waste are produced every year, but only 20 per cent is recycled while the remainder is often incinerated or dumped in landfills.
From Mohamed’s research, he found that Malaysia is producing about one million tonnes e-waste out of that amount.
“According to government statistics, only about 25 per cent of the e-waste in this country is recycled, so the remaining, which is not properly recycled, is worth about RM3 billion. That’s a lot of money,” he says.
“People are throwing away computers, televisions and other electronic items that are piling up in landfills across the world. E-waste contains toxic materials, which pose risks to human health and the environment.”
Mohamed has asked recycling companies why they are unable to collect all of the remaining e-waste, and the response was that collecting smaller amounts of e-waste is a complicated and expensive job, logistically.
COLLECTION HEROES
There are already a number of licensed recycling companies in the country which have the manpower to dismantle e-waste. However, according to Mohamed, collection seems to be a stumbling block.
“Recycling companies are going through the landfills and buying from scavengers who are picking up e-waste from the pile. That e-waste is unfortunately contaminated because it has been mixed together with food and other waste.
“The companies say the problem is not about handling more e-waste, but about the collection system. ERTH is solving the collection problem with our Heroes (or collectors), who are not only passionate about the environment but also want to earn income. Whenever we get a booking through our system, nearby Heroes will be offered the task,” says Mohamed.
ERTH offers a cash reward in exchange for the e-waste to attract more people to recycle; the Heroes will receive half of the reward.
If the item runs on electricity or batteries and can fit inside a car, ERTH Heroes will collect the e-waste but for bulkier items like washing machines and refrigerators, recyclers need to drop off these appliances at its warehouse in Cyberjaya.
ERTH is partnering with four licensed recycling channels or plants; the biggest is in Pulau Indah, Klang.
Their service is mainly to collect the e-waste, while the rest of the recycling process happens at a licensed recycling channel.
“Even after you recover scraps from the e-waste, there is still about 10 per cent residual waste which needs to
be treated properly before they are deposited at landfills. Usually, unlicensed channels do not follow the government’s regulated procedures to dump the residual waste, and that’s why we only work with centres that are legitimate,” explains Mohamed.
“For devices that are still working, ERTH will sell them as second-hand items, to be refurbished. For devices such as smartphones and laptops, the vendors we are working with guarantee a complete data destruction before recycling.”
Up till the middle of July this year, ERTH has already collected over 50,000kg compared to only 500kg during the first four months of its business with no Heroes involved.
ERTH also used to work with freelancers to handle the e-waste pick-up but eventually, as the amount grew, the start-up has (since January) been collaborating with a number of logistic companies that can provide transportation.
The e-waste is collected and stored at ERTH’s facility storage in Cyberjaya. When it’s full, the recycling partners will be notified to handle transfers for dismantling and proper e-waste recycling process.
“We still have a long way to go, but we have proven that this is the right model to recycle idle e-waste which is currently improperly stored.
“Everyone has e-waste but no one has the time to bring them for recycling. Since having a network of Heroes, ERTH has generated more than RM100,000 in revenue.”
ERTH is now the largest direct collector of e-waste in the Klang Valley and is working with international entities such as the United Nations, computing company Dell and energy giant Shell to help reduce their waste footprint.
HEALTH AT RISK
Improper dumping of e-waste that is filling the landfills has a harmful impact not just on the environment but also human health.
“When it rains, the water will bind the toxic molecules from the e-waste in the soil, which contaminates plants and the sea. These harmful materials will eventually reach our food chain and become the silent killer.
“If plastics can stay for 500 years in the landfills, e-waste can stay for millions of years. It doesn’t go away.”
People who stay near dumpsites, especially children, are vulnerable to health risks as their bodies are still developing.The United Nations estimated that e-waste production will triple by 2050, due to our love of gadgets and devices, which are becoming more and more affordable.
ERTH has also set up about 20 e-waste collection boxes in the Klang Valley, Johor Baru and Tioman Island.
Mohamed says there is also the emergence of companies that are offering the same services as ERTH.
“We don’t mind this because proper e-waste recycling is a collaborative effort and we should all be fighting against the waste landing in landfills.”
SOCIAL CHANGE
Although fairly new in the scene, ERTH was in the Top 3 for Malaysia and also one of the eight finalists of the Alipay-NUS Enterprise Social Innovation Challenge that concluded last April.
The challenge was jointly organised by Alipay, which is operated by Ant Financial Services Group and NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of the National University of Singapore.
It won S$10,000 (RM30,400) and will be given support from NUS Enterprise, Alipay, special partner International Finance Corporation, and other supporting partners of the challenge to further develop its ideas in combating e-wastes.
Its success also sees it participating in the 10x1000 Tech for Inclusion programme in China, a comprehensive training that supports the cultivation of 10,000 technology experts in emerging markets from both public and private sectors over the next 10 years. Besides mentorship and support, it will also be given tools for scaling its business and growing impact.
Mohamed aims to set up ERTH in 200 countries to make a difference to e-waste management in the world. It plans to start franchising its business, making it available to all the states here.
It will also increase its service offerings, in terms of type of e-waste accepted, and reward programmes.
ERTH will be supplying e-waste to schools in Cyberjaya for some art projects they are working on. Mohamed explains, “We extract keys from the keyboards and dip them into different colours. The schools will then use the coloured keys to make their art projects. We may buy the finished products from them to promote e-waste recycling to other corporations or at events.”