Quito • 16. June 2021
+++Update on the PREVENT pilot project “E-nnovating Quito: Sustainable e-waste management supported by collect-and-learn vehicles”+++
The first sparring session within PREVENT’s “E-nnovating” pilot project took place on the 16th of June with the collaboration of the PREVENT members DIE, UBA and University of Kassel. The exchange helped to focus the approach of the pilot project, which is developing mobile vehicles, serving as learning centres & collection units at the same time.
Raising awareness on the e-waste challenge is the main focus of the E-nnovating pilot project in Quito, Ecuador. As the project wants to reach the maximum number of people possible, from all genders, ages, economic conditions, etc, the core of the project is to have two mobile collectors, which are designed to function as mobile learning centres, traveling through the city and educating the local population on how to manage e-waste sustainably. The collected electronic devices will be locally recycled, closing the loop to a circular economy.
The team is focused on carefully assessing how to best reach the broad public and benchmark with relevant local partners who have a large grass-root experience. Understanding the particularities enables our project to provide a learning experience which will be effective and therefore sustainable.
The sparring session was a unique opportunity to get expert feedback on our chosen approach, while – still being in the design phase – this gives us a chance to reflect, identify tools and channels to use, partners and networks, and eventually adapt our strategy. We had a rich and comprehensive discussion and the chance to learn from the experiences on consumer behaviour, as well as awareness-raising activities tailored to Latin American countries. More important than have answers as an output of the session was to come up with the right questions.
We believe that education is a fundamental factor of inclusion and social mobility and it’s the pathway to achieve an exponential positive impact we aim for in our project. An important part of the puzzle is to engage the citizens to make them understand the impacts of their actions and decisions. We are inviting the citizens in Quito to reflect on “how can consumers do their part and make electronic waste management more efficient”?
One pillar of e-nnovating is the call for action: increase citizens’ awareness around the importance of e-waste management and how each one can contribute to it through sustainable consumption and correct disposal practices. As another element of the project, we work along with e-waste stakeholders regarding EPR implementation.
We are delighted to count on the active support of the PREVENT network, engaged in universalising the knowledge and catalysing systemic change.
If you are interested to know more about the PREVENT pilot project “E-nnovating Quito: Sustainable e-waste management supported by collect-and-learn vehicles”, please click here.
Picture: Vertmonde