Micromax and Think Green partnership to promote e-waste management

Leading Indian mobile handset company Micromax has partnered with Think Green (Pvt) Ltd. in a bid to promote e-waste management in Sri Lanka.

Think Green (Pvt) Ltd. Head of Marketing Sivahar Muthuramalingam said, “Mobile phones and batteries are some of the largest contributors of toxic substances to our landfills.

These items contain hazardous levels of lead, nickel-cadmium, and other toxic materials which cause a serious threat to humans and living organisms and have a detrimental impact on our environment and eco-systems.” He further adds that “disposing of e-waste in a safe and proper manner is crucial especially for companies to meet growing compliance requirements for promoting a more sustainable environment”.

The number of mobile phone users in Sri Lanka has increased dramatically in past years, with an estimated 12.8 million users as of August 2012. The average life cycle of a mobile phone is three years, while the lifespan of mobile batteries is two years. Given these statistics, it is estimated at present that on average, a person would have used at least two mobile phones, resulting in the fact that approximately 25.6 million phones have been dumped in land fills.

Commenting on the importance of driving local e-waste management initiatives, Micromax Sri Lanka Country Manager Sanjeev Ariaratnam stated: “The numbers are constantly growing, and we feel this partnership will be greatly beneficial towards addressing the issue of disposing e-waste in the proper manner in the country, thereby lessening the impact on the environment. At Micromax, we feel it is our social responsibility to drive engagement for green initiatives and strive towards creating a more sustainable environment.” The Micromax showroom is located at Majestic City and Micromax products are available across Abans retail showrooms and dealers island-wide. Think Green is a pioneer in providing safe and reliable electronic waste management in Sri Lanka, which is approved by the Central Environment Authority and an exporter operating under the regulations for environment-friendly recycling.  More information can be obtained from the website www.thinkgreen.lk