Airtel partners with Green Links Lanka for better management of e-waste
Saturday, 10 May 2014 00:00
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Bharti Airtel Lanka, a subsidiary of Bharti Airtel, a leading global telecommunications company with operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa, today announced a strategic partnership with Green Links Lanka to embark on a project of e-waste management.
Airtel Lanka, as a brand that has great focus on sustainability of the environment, and as a licensed mobile telecom operator in Sri Lanka, has identified its responsibility towards reducing the impact made on the environment as much as possible. Consequently, Airtel Lanka signed a MoU to secure e-waste management services provided by Green Links Lanka.
The project, which is woven around a mobile phone recycling program, will be launched in several districts across the country. Airtel Lanka will place e-waste collection bins provided by Green Links Lanka at strategic locations where the public can conveniently dispose their unusable mobile phones.
Commenting on this CSR initiative Bharti Airtel Lanka CEO/MD Suren Goonewardene said, “As a global telecommunication provider, Airtel Lanka believes in the importance of maintaining a responsible attitude towards the environment. We expect that with this initiative for mobile phone recycling, the adverse impact made on the environment with disposed mobile phones can be minimised.”
Green Links Lanka MD Nalin Gunaratne said, “As Sri Lanka’s first and pioneer e waste management company who introduced the concept to Sri Lanka, we are glad to join with Airtel and expand the services for mobile phones across the country enabling the general public to dispose their end of life equipment in a proper manner. Eventually, we expect that this collaboration will lead to a status where the country’s environment and people’s health will have no adverse effect from discarded mobile phones and accessories.”
As one of the fastest growing waste streams, e-waste is becoming a serious issue in both developed and developing countries. The short life span of mobile phones generates a rapid growth in e-waste generation which needs to be managed meticulously so as to prevent a harmful impact on the environment.
