Strategies for assisting corporations and individuals transition to eco-friendly ventures and accumulate wealth: #CANNOTREFUSETOMONEY
Recycling Electronics: A Lucrative but Challenging Venture in Russia
An Insight into the Story of Kapustagroup and its Founder, Ilya Kapustin
Ilya Kapustin swooped into the Russian scene in 2014, setting up Kapustagroup with a unique business idea - recycling electronic waste (e-waste). From old laptops to household appliances, these items are dismantled to extract metals, plastics, and precious metals from their circuit boards. ABS plastic is particularly sought after, being used in new device casings.
E-waste offers promising business potential, thanks to its large market volume and the fact that disposal by landfill is illegal for both individuals and businesses. Add to that the fast-paced obsoleteness of tech gadgets and the perpetual supply of e-waste, and it's clear why this waste type is attractive.
However, with potential comes adversity. Russia lacks the necessary infrastructure for working with e-waste, particularly with individuals. The lack of collection points and citizen education about the little value of their old devices (around 5-10 rubles per kg) has kept the market underground. Traditionally, market players have focused on recycling corporate devices for a fee.
In 2018, Ilya Kapustin decided to shake things up by targeting individuals, but faced a primary challenge: communication. Attracting clients and setting clear prices were daunting tasks. Additionally, the inconvenience and cost of travel to recycle devices hindered the market's growth.
To tackle this, Ilya started the "Green Heroes School" social project, promoting e-waste recycling education. In 2018, they launched a mobile retro-tech exhibit, visiting schools with valuable exhibits from Soviet-era devices. Initially, schools sought help to dispose of old technology that had been accumulating. Realizing the need, "Green Heroes School" started offering free equipment disposal for budget institutions, expanding into commercial businesses in 2019.
Fast forward to today, #WasteFreeMuseum is the leading operator for separate waste collection for both individuals and businesses in Russia. Kapustagroup Holding has a project office that develops ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategies for businesses, offering courses on waste management and consulting firms on implementing separate waste collection solutions.
The company is involved in infrastructure projects with notable brands like IKEA, Sber, and RusPRO. Kapustagroup boasts two stationary waste sorting facilities, an eco-center in Moscow, and another in Yekaterinburg, reaching approximately 1,000 schoolchildren every month. They collect around 110 tons of waste monthly, serving 500,000 residents of the Sverdlovsk region.
In essence, Kapustagroup Holding is transforming disposal into a value chain, creating jobs while keeping hazardous waste out of landfills. The venture has only recently become profitable, with Kapustagroup investing 110 million rubles, including 87 million of its own funds, into infrastructure development.
Strategies to Educate the Public on E-Waste Recycling
To create a sustainable environment and promote e-waste recycling, the following strategies can prove effective:
- Educational and Training Programs: Specialist e-waste management courses can educate the public on responsible practices, regulatory compliance, and recycling strategies.
- Awareness Campaigns and Community Engagement: Campaigns aimed at schools, organizations, and communities can drive grassroots eco-friendly behavior.
- Accessible Collection and Recycling Infrastructure: A network of e-waste collection points across neighborhoods prevents hazardous waste from being informally disposed of.
- Promotion of Repair, Refurbishment, and Reuse: Encouraging device repair, refurbishment, and reuse decreases waste generation while providing low-cost electronics.
- Integration into Formal Education Curricula: Incorporating e-waste and environmental sustainability topics into the curriculum can instill early awareness in students.
- Collaboration with Businesses and NGOs: Partnering with organizations offering e-waste services can expand pickup, recycling, and consulting services.
By embracing these strategies, Russia can effectively educate its population on the importance of e-waste recycling and foster a responsible, greener future.
[1] Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley. (2021). Introduction to Solid Waste Management. Retrieved from https://courses.edx.org/courses/course-v1:BerkeleyX+ESPMX+ESPM.NEER24x+3T2021/courseware/a4e88281f87a4a09bc8a95a30c0db36c/c986b8207d6e73d0bc3aea8d9f3dd7bf/21b32ab1c31e860eb768324f8c258f04267f266b/[2] National Recycling Coalition. (2021). Electronic Waste Recycling. Retrieved from https://www.nrcrecycling.org/what-should-you-know-electronic-waste-e-waste-recycling[3] Education and Sustainability Research Group (EdS). (2021). Incorporating E-Waste Management into the School Curriculum: A Review of Previous Studies. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348401458_Incorporating_E-Waste_Management_into_the_School_Curriculum_A_Review_of_previous_studies[4] World Economic Forum. (2020). 5 Big Data for Social Good Applications to Turn Waste into Opportunity. Retrieved from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/02/big-data-for-social-good-5-examples-of-waste-management/[5] United Nations University. (2021). _ E-waste and the circular economy_: Innovative approaches for sustainable value creation. Retrieved from https://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/8288en/
*Science and environmental-science play a significant role in the field of e-waste recycling, as understanding the composition of e-waste and developing efficient waste management strategies are essential.
- Financing and business practices are crucial in scaling e-waste recycling initiatives, as proper funding and sound business models can drive growth and create a more sustainable environment.
