Jeevesh Kumar, Founder, Greenscape Eco Management

e-waste Management!

Electronic waste or e-waste is one of the rapidly growing environmental problems of the world. With extensively using computers and electronic equipments and people dumping old electronic goods for new ones, the amount of e-Waste generated has been steadily increasing. Now we have a solution to this and that is Greenscape Eco Management. YourStory had a conversation with Jeevesh Kumar the founder of this innovative venture Greenscape Eco Management where he discussed sout his entrepreneurial journey.What is Greenscape all about?

Greenscape Eco Management Pvt. Ltd. is a fast growing electronic waste management company run by a dedicated young team comprising of extremely enthusiastic, socially responsible individuals who share the vision to ensure 100% safe disposal of all e-waste across the country.

Since its inception in 2007, Greenscape Eco Management Pvt. Ltd. has grown to become India’s leading provider of services for safe, reliable and eco-friendly disposal of e-waste. Greenscape Eco Management Pvt. Ltd. uses comprehensive de-manufacturing and reverse logistical processes to ensure that the value in used electronic equipment is retrieved whilst providing high levels of data security.

Greenscape Eco Management Pvt. Ltd. also enables businesses and individuals to follow environmental legislation for disposal of electronic waste such as mobile phones and computers. Waste or unwanted electronic equipment such as laptops and mobile phones are recycled to extract ferrous metals, non ferrous metals, plastic, glass and rubber for secondary processing and in turn manufacturing.

What kind of clients do you get?

Since all individuals, institutions and businesses use electronics, which over the course of years become obsolete. All individuals or mass consumers of electronic and electrical goods comprise our target market.  Users of electronics (individuals as well as organizations) benefit directly from our services. However, everyone benefits from our services indirectly as a result of safe disposal of hazardous electronic waste, which would have otherwise caused various forms of pollutions.

What basic idea do yoy follow?

Electronic waste is the fastest growing waste stream worldwide, it is hazardous but at the same time, it contains precious and non precious materials which are in high demand worldwide. The idea behind our venture is to ensure safe disposal of such waste while recovering useful materials, thus reducing the burden for mining fresh materials from the earth.What according to you makes Greenscape different?

Our business model is based on the recovery of useful materials contained in electronic waste. We collect e-waste, which is then processed at our facility. Printed Circuit Boards which can not be processed locally, are sent to another facility in Belgium. The metals thus recovered are brought back to India after paying a processing fee for the services used there. All materials thus obtained are sold to manufacturers who use them for producing new goods.

The business model is what makes us different because it:

• generates value from e-waste
• recovers maximum possible materials from e-waste
• utilizes existing best available technology globally
• does not require investments for setting up precious metal recovery locally.

We are a process oriented organization rather than a technology focused company. By addressing the flow of e-waste in the right direction we can undo the threat that electronic waste poses on the environment. If waste is managed by the informal scrap dealers, it not only causes pollution in water, air and land streams; but poses a threat to the health and safety of the workers directly dealing with the e-waste. On the other hand, we offer our workers with health insurance and proper training to manage waste and minimize threat to the environment.

Why entrepreneurship and wht not a reguaar 9-5 job?

Entrepreneurship is about changing from within, changing our way of thinking. An entrepreneur doesn’t see a challenge as a challenge but as an opportunity. With the shift in the attitude, an entrepreneur looks for solution in a creative way. It is the change in way of thinking that differentiates entrepreneurs from regular 9-5 workers. I never saw myself following the crowd, I believe in taking risk and rising up from my failures and converting each obstacle into an opportunity.

What according to you has been the biggest hurdle in your journey?

The biggest challenge has been sourcing of electronic waste; people in India are yet to wake up to the concept of recycling. Obsolete electronics are sold off to kabariwaalas at thrifty prices by both individuals and companies. The effect of this business transaction is overlooked by monetary gains; however the damage done in the process to the environment is irrevocable. GEM works hand in hand with NGO’s and government bodies and pursues awareness campaigns to educate users about detrimental effects of heavy metals present in end of life electronics.

What is in the future of Greenscape?

Greenscape Eco Management Pvt. Ltd. employs 30 people. A second recycling facility is under construction.

Our model is easily scalable through further developing our e-waste collection network and setting up dismantling & segregation units.

Tell us about the golden moments of Greenscape?

Greenscape Eco Management Pvt. Ltd. chairs the e-waste initiative of TEMA and assists the Green Warriors initiative of NASSCOM. Over 30 large corporate and PSU clients in addition to SMEs and institutions has been our biggest achievement.

YourStory wishes Jeevesh Kumar and his venture Greenscape Eco Management all the luck and success for their future.