Softlogic partners with Think Green for e-waste recycling

Tuesday, 30 October 2012 00:11 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Softlogic Group policy on environment is to encourage environmentally friendly practices within all Group companies in order to protect ecosystems, land, air and water. The Group policy is also to do the best it can to conserve energy, and be dutiful citizens in the management of waste.

In keeping with this policy, Softlogic Holdings PLC signed a MoU with Think Green to dispose of its e-waste in an environmentally-friendly manner. Think Green, a pioneer in providing safe and reliable electronic waste management in Sri Lanka, is approved by the Central Environment Authority of Sri Lanka and is an exporter operating under the regulations of the UN Basel conventions for transboundary movement of hazardous content.

Electronics contain hazardous materials such as lead, cadmium and mercury and when disposed in land-filling, hazardous chemicals from the e-waste seep into the ground leaving contaminated water and soil which remains in soil forever, endangering human life and other living beings. So it is important that electronic waste is disposed in a safe manner when it reaches end of life.

Softlogic, as a first step towards enhancing its e-waste recycling program, handed over the first batch of e-waste from its retail services area containing 482.25kg of waste. In order to better educate the staff of the Services Division, Think Green also conducted an awareness session for all staff including the management of all three regional centres. The public is encouraged to drop off their e-waste at any of the 140 service points located throughout the island.

Softlogic is a diversified conglomerate operating in key sectors of retail, healthcare, ICT, automobile, leisure and financial services. The E -waste recycling program is already initiated at Asiri and Central Hospitals and the Group hopes to expand the e-waste recycling programme to include all of its subsidiaries in the near future.