Sustainable electronic waste management framework for academic institutions in India

Technology is increasingly used in schools to teach, study, and organise. Technology use has increased e-waste. As "electronic waste" or "e-waste," old laptops, desktops, projectors, and other devices contain hazardous components that can harm the environment if discarded improperly. This study examines the challenges learning institutions face in handling e-waste without compromising efficiency, including the need to stay current, insufficient funds to repair equipment, and a lack of knowledge on how to dispose of it. To overcome these obstacles, this article proposed a shared solution: a sustainable collaboration to manage electronic waste. e-waste data collection and analysis are the foundation of this framework. Of 452 electrical products, 32.1% were older than 5 years and 34.1% needed repair or replacement. On-site recycling offers a 90% material recovery rate and a 10,000 yearly profit after operational expenses, making it superior than external recycling (210,000 vs. 7,000). Real-time monitoring, automated reporting, and decision-support tools make the suggested concept reproducible for sustainable e-waste management in learning institutions. The suggested framework would reduce carbon emissions by 5-7 metric tonnes and salvage 15 tonnes of valuable materials annually. It also estimates the cost of delivering electronic waste to merchants and compares it to the cost of constructing an e-waste recycling centre in a learning institution. By working together, educational institutions may lessen their environmental effect and be responsible technology guardians for future generations.