M-Waste Project

About the Project

Dialog Telekom Plc is the leading mobile service provider in Sri Lanka supporting a customer base of approximately 5 million. Unlike some mobile service providers Dialog does not retail mobile handsets. Thus Dialog would be only partially responsible for the accumulation of M-waste in the country. The M-waste project is therefore an act of extended product responsibility of the company.

The main objectives of the project

  • Creating awareness in consumers to return used handsets and batteries.
  • To Develop a dynamic take-back channel using Dialog’s established channel network and dispose of stockpiles responsibly.
  • To operate a proactive and sustainable handset take-back programme at no cost to the customer supported by a robust communications campaign.

In December 2007 the Corporate responsibility team of Dialog launched this project based on the mobile take back initiatives carried out in other countries. The Central Environmental Authority (CEA), the main regulatory body, provided Dialog with the license to collect, transport and store Mobile waste within Sri Lanka.

At the beginning 13 Dialog arcade points were used as M-waste collection points. Progressively all the 65 Franchise outlets were added. A robust media campaign using, Tv and radio adverts and press advertisements were carried out to create public awareness on this project.
The Mobile Environmental Education Programme (MEEP) was carried out by Dialog in 150 schools through which awareness was created among junior and senior students and a Mobile M-waste collection was carried out in these schools.

Results of 2008

During the year 2008, a total number of 14,000 M-waste units were collected. This is a accumulation of roughly 7,000 handsets, 4,000 Chargers and 3,000 batteries. This collection was sent to a recycling plant in China. Both the recycler and the transporter of the M-waste stock were certified by the regulatory bodies in Sri Lanka and China. Dialog has received certification that the first ever Mobile waste stock of Sri Lanka has been successfully recycled in Guangzhou, China.

New Developments in 2009

  • The Central Environmental Authority joined Dialog in supporting the company’s attempts to rid the country of M-waste.
  • The Memorandum of Understanding between Dialog and The CEA was signed on the 19th July 2009.
  • Through this initiative, the CEA will fund Dialog in the awareness and collection process, initiating new collection points and taking forward the project throughout the country. Dialog would continue with the collection and storage of M-waste and facilitate the export of M-waste from the country.
  • This project would be funded through the Environmental conservation levy which is collected with the objective of creating a proper e-waste management system in Sri Lanka.

As the Minister of Environment Mr. Patali Champika Ranawaka emphasized this is a classic example where a corporate has come forward towards a national cause and the government regulatory bodies supporting such initiatives.

You can bring your old mobile phones, batteries or chargers to any Dialog arcade or franchise outlet and discard them in an environmentally friendly manner and support the M-waste project. For further information please email to : responsibility@dialog.lk


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