At just 13, Rishabh Mittal began considering his environmental impact, making small, thoughtful choices for a sustainable lifestyle.
The ‘Recycling Hero’ started modestly. Initially collecting plastic bottles, he later tackled a more challenging waste: electronics, known for being non-biodegradable and harmful.
Rishabh founded Going Green Dubai, a youth-led initiative encouraging community recycling and reducing environmental footprints, aiming for a greener future. His primary focus is recycling electronic waste — discarded devices that the World Health Organization recognizes as one of the fastest-growing solid waste streams.
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He launched the initiative four years ago, in middle school. Now 17, his dedication has earned him accolades, including being named a KT+150 achiever in October, recognizing young changemakers in various industries, including Social Impact.
From Plastic Bottles to E-Waste
Rishabh’s interest in this initiative was sparked during a school recycling project. This inspired him to make a significant impact on the community and environment.
He began by weekly collecting plastic bottles in his residential building, ensuring proper recycling. His passion for technology soon led him to address electronic waste.
“We use electronics daily — old laptops and phones. What happens to them when they’re no longer needed?” he questioned.
“E-waste typically ends up in landfills and doesn’t decompose. It’s more harmful than regular plastics and papers due to its chemicals,” he added.
E-waste, discarded electronics, takes millions of years to decompose and releases harmful toxins. A study suggests around 50 tonnes of mercury in undocumented e-waste, threatening ecosystems and human health.
Turning Awareness into Action
To amplify his initiative, Rishabh partnered with EnviroServe, the region’s largest e-waste facility. They organized school campaigns and installed e-waste bins for safe disposal of unused electronics.
The facility recycles everything from phones and laptops to large appliances like fridges and washing machines.
“They recycle by extracting raw metals since all devices contain metals like aluminum, copper, or steel,” he explained. “They break it down into copper strands, plastic chunks, metal, aluminum, and more.”
At the campaign’s start, Rishabh collected 1,000 to 2,000kgs of e-waste in one month. According to the Going Green Dubai website, they collected 19,960 bottles, recycled 7,109kg of e-waste, and reduced carbon emissions by 8,951kg.
