The Problem and Motivation behind:
In today’s digital age, electronic devices have become an essential part of daily life. However, their disposal has created a massive environmental challenge.
“We saw people breaking electronics in open areas, releasing toxic gases, and we knew we had to do something. Instead of letting e-waste pollute our communities, why not turn it into an opportunity for sustainability?” – Shakil Hossain
Shakil Hossain (22-year-old) and his team witnessed firsthand how people throw away or break apart devices to extract parts, releasing toxic gases and hazardous waste into the environment, causing serious health consequences, especially in areas where there is no proper system for disposing of or recycling old electronics.
Disposal of e-waste causes a massive environmental challenge in many communities in Bangladesh, which motivated Shakil and his team to find a way to collect, recycle, and manage e-waste efficiently while also creating job opportunities for youth in the community.
The Innovative Solution:
“People used to throw away devices, unaware of the harm they were causing. Now, they come to our hubs instead, knowing that their old electronics will be properly recycled.” –Shakil Hussain.
When Shakil and his team joined the Youth Innovation Lab, they chose to address the problem of e-waste management and recycling. Through a Design Thinking process, the team first focused on empathising with the community, seeking to understand why people do not dispose of their e-waste safely. They learned that a lack of awareness was the primary barrier. At the same time, they realised that people needed a safe, reliable, and profitable way to dispose of their e-waste, encouraging them to see e-waste as a resource rather than a burden.
During the ideation phase, the team brainstormed solutions and developed a prototype for a centralised online platform, Grow with Green, that connects individuals looking to dispose of old electronics with recycling companies, upcyclers, and buyers. Instead of breaking devices on the spot or discarding them, the platform enables community members to get fairer prices for their old devices, compared with the local scrap dealers.
Additionally, Shakil and his team created a collection hub for e-waste in an accessible location within their community where people could drop off their old devices. The hub served as a one-stop e-waste selling platform, where devices were sorted and prepared for safe transportation to recycling companies. As the same time, Shakil and his team organised public awareness programs in schools and local markets, educating youth and community members about dangers of unsafe disposal of e-waste.
Since starting in 2022, Shakil and his team managed to collect and recycle around 42,240 electronic devices so far, preventing thousands of kilograms of toxic waste from contaminating the environment. Moreover, their solution created many employment opportunities for their peers in e-waste collection, sorting, transportation, and recycling.
Lessons Learned and Addressing Challenges
“The Innovation Lab taught us how to structure our idea, plan financially, and reach out to partners. They helped us understand that being an entrepreneur means taking risks and learning from challenges,” Shakil.
With support of the Youth Innovation Lab (YIL), Shakill and his team gota seed grant that allowed them to set up their first collection hub. They also received business development training that helped them to plan their operations, manage finances, and set fair prices for e-waste. Moreover, the connected them with mentors in recycling filed who helped them to partner recycling companies and learn industry best practices.
Reflecting on their learning, Shakil identified three major lessons learned:
- Changing people’s habits through partnership – One of the biggest challenges was changing people’s habits regarding e-waste disposing. To address this, the team used a partnership approach that create incentives for thee. Instead of confronting people directly, they invited them to be part of the solution and earn money from disposing their electronics via the platform and collection hubs. By turning them into partners, they built a network of support rather than resistance. Shakil explains “We realised that the best way to convince people was not just to educate them but to make them feel involved. Once they felt part of the initiative, they cooperated more,”
- Overcoming resistance from scrap dealer by partnering with them – Local scrap dealers were breaking electronics openly to extract metals, releasing toxic fumes. Instead of competing, they partnered with them, ensuring safe disposal while still giving them a business opportunity.
- Gaining market insight and learning how to set fair prices from recycling partners – Another challenge was the lack of market knowledge about e-waste value. Initially, they were unsure how to price collected items. The partnership with recycling companies helped them understand market dynamics and set fair prices.
Next Steps and Future Aspirations
“We want to make it easy for everyone to recycle electronics. If we can build more hubs, we can make Dhaka cleaner and greener … We started with just one small hub, and now we’re planning to grow nationwide. If youth like us can do this, anyone can!” Shakil.
Looking ahead, Shakil and his team plan to expand Grow with Green by establishing more hubs in different areas. Their ultimate goal is to become Bangladesh’s leading e-waste recycling company, preventing thousands of tons of e-waste from harming the environment. To do so, they have a plan for the following steps:
- Launching a Mobile App – Making it easier for users to schedule e-waste pickups, making the process even more convenient. The app will include features like price estimation and real-time tracking.
- Expanding the network of e-waste hubs – Setting up more hubs in different cities to reach more communities, creating a circular economy model that involves collectors, recyclers, and upcyclers.
- Partnering with Larger Recycling Companies – Scaling up operations to handle more e-waste efficiently.
A circular economy is a way of designing, making, and using products that minimises waste and makes the most of resources. Instead of the traditional “take, make, dispose” model (where products are used and then thrown away), a circular economy focuses on reusing, repairing, recycling, and upcycling. This means that products and materials are kept in use for as long as possible, reducing waste and environmental impact.