ICLEI South Asia, in association with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), has launched a series of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities to promote responsible e-waste management among citizens and communities in Pune. The activities are being undertaken as part of the ‘Green Byte Pune’ project.
The first activities under the campaign, held on 21 and 22 August 2026, combined a roadshow in central Pune with classroom sessions for school students, taking the message of responsible e-waste disposal directly to citizens and young people.
The roadshow covered a 2-km stretch around the PMC Head Office, using a mobile van to share messages on the importance of responsible e-waste disposal. Participants also engaged with residents on simple actions that can be taken at home.
Representatives from PMC, including Assistant Health Officer Dr Sadhana Bhangare, e-waste recycling organisations, sanitary workers, and civil society organisations participated in the activity.
The classroom sessions involved students from the Deccan Education Society’s New English School, Ramanbaug. Students from Classes 8 and 9 were introduced to practical aspects of e-waste management, including how to identify e-waste, protect personal data, and choose safe disposal options. The campaign is designed not only to build awareness among students, but also to engage them as ambassadors of change, extending responsible e-waste practices beyond the classroom.
The Green Byte Pune project seeks to highlight the role consumers can play in responsible e-waste management. With the rapid growth of electronic consumption, cities like Pune are facing the burden of increasing volumes of e-waste. When electronic waste is mixed with municipal waste or handled through informal and unauthorised channels, it can result in environmental and health risks as well as the loss of valuable resources. At the same time, discarding functional electronic devices and inadequate data removal can create additional risks. This IEC campaign aims to focus on such issues and sensitize people on steps to ensure scientific and sustainable collection and processing of electronic waste.
ICLEI South Asia will continue working with stakeholders to build awareness under Green Byte Pune. The campaign will also support the proposed pilot-scale decentralised e-waste collection centre under the project.
The initiative reflects ICLEI South Asia’s approach to supporting cities in advancing sustainable and circular urban development through collaboration among local governments, communities, educational institutions, private-sector actors and other stakeholders.
