Hyderabad, April 23 (RAHNUMA): The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has launched a comprehensive, QR-enabled e-waste disposal ecosystem aimed at ensuring safe, responsible, and sustainable handling of electronic waste across the city.
Electronic waste poses serious risks to both human health and the environment if not disposed of properly. Recognising its hazardous nature, the Union government has classified e-waste as a special category of waste, mandating that only authorised agencies handle its collection and processing.
GHMC Commissioner R.V. Karnan stated that since January 2026, the corporation has undertaken extensive efforts in collecting e-waste and conducting awareness programs. Moving beyond short-term initiatives, GHMC has now established a long-term, self-sustaining ecosystem to facilitate responsible e-waste disposal for citizens.
GHMC has facilitated the installation of 30 e-waste drop boxes across retail outlets of leading electronics stores, including BigC, BNew, Happi, LOT, Sangeetha, Select, and Touch. Citizens can locate these drop points QR access and safely dispose of their unwanted electronic waste. As of 21 April 2026, all designated stores have operational, standardised drop boxes.
GHMC has partnered with Hyderabad-based authorised e-waste recyclers to provide doorstep collection services. Citizens will soon be able to request pickups through a QR-enabled system. Participating recyclers include Earth Sense, Recytronics, Pure Earth, Z Enviro, and Green Enviro, all of whom have been onboarded and trained for the initiative.
A series of ward-level awareness and e-waste collection drives will be conducted to educate citizens on the environmental and health impacts of improper disposal. All collected e-waste will be handled in compliance with regulatory guidelines by authorized recyclers. Details of event locations will be announced shortly.
The Commissioner further stated that citizens who responsibly dispose of e-waste will receive appreciation certificates and redeemable reward points. These points can be utilised at approved Self Help Groups, including Shilparamam and other partner agencies, with plans to expand coverage.
This initiative is expected to strengthen source segregation, enhance citizen participation, enable effective waste tracking, and significantly reduce the burden on landfills.
GHMC invites brands, volunteers, and stakeholders to participate in this initiative and contribute feedback for its continuous improvement.
The e-waste ecosystem was formally launched by the GHMC Commissioner at Happi and BigC electronic stores in Ameerpet, Hyderabad on Thursday in the presence of representatives from Earth Sense E-Waste Recycling company and GHMC officials.
