VMware Citizen Philanthropists Organize Bangalore E-Waste Drive

On July 21, 150 citizen philanthropists at VMware Bangalore designed a custom service learning project: door-to-door e-waste collection. In the weeks leading up to the drive, volunteers worked with local radio and newspapers, as well as businesses and social media influencers to promote the drive, and partnered with local nonprofits, Saahas and Ensyde, to facilitate recycling. On the big day, the group divided into 12 teams to collect e-waste from the Koramangala neighborhood.

In just 80 minutes, the teams collected 421kg of e-waste (which translates into 121kg of GHGs) in addition to 2.5kg of Toxic Metals (Lead and Mercury), 3.83kg of Copper, 1.77kg of Aluminium and 23.65kg of Steel - all recycled or diverted.

Since the initial drive, sustainably-minded residents from across the state of Karnataka have written for advice on starting their own e-waste drives! Many thanks to our citizen philanthropists for expertly identifying and orchestrating an opportunity to engage, educate and inspire the community they work in.