Care to join the army of recycling with your broken computer, flash memory, or hard disk in order to save the earth from pollution and conserve its natural resources? Recyclobekya is a company specialising in getting rid of electronic waste in a safe way through recycling while at the same time helping to protect the environment and users from hazards. “We are the first company in the Arab world offering green recycling of e- waste and safe data destruction services,” said Mustafa Hemdan, Co-founder and Chief Executive of Recyclobekya. The idea started three years ago when a group of engineering students entered the Injaz Misr Competition, a Save the Children Foundation project, and won first place as a result. In 2012, Recyclobekya was awarded the FedEx Access Award at the Injaz Al-Arab regional competition. “We are contributing to Egypt and the region's economy through earning hard currency,” Osama Kabel, the operations and supply chain manager, replied when asked about the significance of e-waste recycling to the country. Statistics show that every single citizen is adding 0.5 kg annually to the quantity of e-waste in Egypt, and the company is helping to make a dent in this. Recycling can benefit from this waste by extracting gold, silver or copper and other valuable materials, while at the same time getting rid of the poisonous or toxic materials it may contain. The World Resources Institute, an environmental organisation, says that electronic waste is now among the 10 most serious pollutants in the world today. Mercury, for example, can poison soil for nearly 150 years. A thrown-away electronic device containing lead can affect the human central nervous system in the long run, and elements such as cadmium and beryllium can cause cancer, according to the WHO (World Health Organisation). “We are aiming at better health and a better environment,” Kabel said. “Through the project you can get an I-pad device in exchange for a broken computer as a sign of green action,” he added. When the company receives a broken device it calculates the value of the precious metals inside and gives the customers points that allow them to make purchases on one of the most famous online shopping Websites in Egypt. “We also pass on functioning devices to the needy through the Message Resala charity,” he added. Companies can also get coupons that help reduce their taxes. Kabel highlights a lack of awareness both of recycling in general and the dangers of e-waste as the first obstacle “Recyclobykians” could face, and so the group has run campaigns at schools, universities and through social networks to increase levels of awareness among the public. The company has sought to establish recycling principles among school students through dedicated events, he said. Kahrabekya is a project aimed to collecting e-waste in collaboration with Recyclobekya through extending the recycling culture among school students. “Reaching each home in each governorate is at the top of our priorities and receiving positive feedback is our target,” Kabel said. The writer is a freelance journalist.
