Chandigarh has launched a doorstep e-waste collection drive that will send a dedicated van across the city to collect discarded electrical and electronic equipment from residents and route it towards authorised recycling channels.
Project Punarjanma, titled “The Reincarnation of Technology”, was launched by the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC) in partnership with the Rotary Club at Paryavaran Bhawan in Sector 19-B on Wednesday. The initiative was timed to mark International E-Waste Day.
The programme aims to promote responsible disposal of electronic waste, strengthen authorised recycling and support the development of a regional circular economy model. Alongside the mobile collection service, the organisers will conduct awareness campaigns in educational institutions, residential areas and through civil society groups.
The CPCC’s member secretary highlighted the health and environmental hazards associated with dumping e-waste through informal scrap dealers. The committee said the initiative is intended to redirect discarded electronics through authorised channels rather than allowing them to enter unorganised disposal networks.
A UT spokesperson advised residents not to dispose of or sell e-waste to unorganised scrap sellers. “Residents are advised to avoid disposing of or selling e-waste to unorganised scrap dealers and to use authorised collection channels,” the spokesperson said.
Residents seeking collection can call or message 98829 71255 or 82880 79366, according to the UT administration. The dedicated van will operate across Chandigarh, although the launch announcement did not specify a fixed route, collection calendar or the names of the authorised recycling facilities that will receive the material.
The drive places doorstep collection at the centre of Chandigarh’s effort to improve how electronic waste moves from households into the formal recycling system. Unlike routine disposal, e-waste collection requires residents to identify a separate channel for discarded electronics, while authorities and partner organisations must provide an accessible pickup mechanism and communicate how the service can be used.
The project also links waste collection with public education. Campaigns planned across institutions and neighbourhoods are expected to focus on the risks of informal disposal and the use of authorised channels. The initiative’s stated motto is “Recycle Today for a Greener Tomorrow”.
The CPCC and Rotary Club have not announced a target for the quantity of e-waste to be collected, the duration of the drive or the frequency with which the van will visit different parts of the city. Further operational details will determine how residents access the service beyond the initial launch and how the collected equipment is transferred for authorised recycling.
