Now, an app to get e-waste picked up at your doorstep

Having trouble disposing off e-waste? Fret not. You can now have electronic junk picked up free of cost at your doorstep and even get paid for it at the click of a button on a smartphone.

Encashea, a new app designed by three IIT graduates Priyank Jain, Harshal Chaudhari and Rahul Jaiswal, will allow users to avail this facility. Speaking to Deccan Herald, Priyank Jain, co-founder and alumni from IIT Kharagpur, said: “The idea struck us when we saw apartment dwellers, including me, facing problems in disposing off e-waste. Finding traditional Kabadiwallas (ragpicker) is a challenge and if you do come across them they often use faulty machines to weigh the waste.”

Presently, residents in Bellandur, Marathahalli, Mahadevapura, Hoodi, AECS Layout and surrounding area are using this facility, which has been operational since August. Users can select the name of their area/apartment and choose three pick up slots- morning, afternoon and evening.

A team of around 10 people are involved in handling operations, including picking up waste and transporting it to a warehouse located at Mahadevapura, where the junk is stored and sorted. Scrap metal is usually sold to metal traders and e-waste to certified recyclers. Paper waste is sold to paper mills.

Harshal Chaudhari, another co-founder said that newspapers are being sold at Rs 8 to 10 per kg, metals at Rs 10 to 12 per kg and e-waste between Rs 8 to 20 per kg. “Customers are paid on the spot and the prices vary depending on the market,” he added.

More than six tonnes of waste has been collected from apartments so far and plans are on to extend this service to individual houses, said Chaudhari. He added that the service is available on 6 days of the week. Wednesday is a holiday.

The app is available on android phones and the facility can also be availed through the website-www.encashea.com.