In 2018, I moved to Gothenburg, Sweden, for my studies. While adapting to a new country and culture, one everyday habit caught my attention—the way people managed waste.

Gothenburg is known for sustainability, recycling, and circular economy practices. However, what impressed me most was not large recycling facilities or government policies. It was how naturally ordinary people practiced waste segregation in their daily lives.

 

Apartment buildings had separate bins for different types of waste. Recycling stations were easy to access, and even children understood where each item belonged. Waste management was not considered extra work; it was simply a habit.

Over time, it became part of my routine too. Food waste, plastic bottles, batteries, and electronic items were all stored and disposed of separately.

This experience taught me a simple lesson:

Recycling starts at home—with awareness, responsibility, and small daily actions.

 

 

When I returned to India, I began thinking about how we handle old electronic devices. Phones, laptops, appliances, servers, batteries, and circuit boards often remain unused in cupboards or are disposed of through unsafe channels.

But old electronics are not merely waste. They contain valuable materials such as copper, aluminium, and precious metals that can be recovered and reused through responsible e-waste recycling.

 

The more I learned about electronic waste and resource recovery, the more interested I became in the recycling industry. Over time, that interest became a purpose and eventually led to the co-founding of EcoTrio.

India has enormous potential to build a strong circular economy. We have a growing recycling industry, skilled workers, entrepreneurship, and increasing environmental awareness.

What we need are:

Better e-waste collection systems

Responsible recycling practices

Greater public awareness

A shift from viewing e-waste as a problem to recognizing it as a valuable resource

The goal is not to copy Sweden or compare countries. It is to learn from effective practices, adapt them to Indian realities, and help build a cleaner and stronger recycling ecosystem.

Old electronics are not waste. With responsible recycling, they can become valuable resources for the future.