Classified as hazardous waste, electronic waste, or e-waste, should be reduced and recycled, said participants at an E-waste Awareness and Collection Day, held this week at the American University of Beirut. Under the patronage of Lebanese Environment Minister Mohammed Rahhal and with his participation, Beeatoona [Our Environment] organized the special day with the collaboration of AUB’s Center for Civic Engagement and Community Services and the University’s environmental club.
During the event, AUB was declared an official e-waste collection point for the AUB campus and the surrounding neighborhood, and Beeatoona and AUB committed to keep on spreading awareness about this problem.
A large number of participants attended the special day and mobilized themselves to make a change for a better environment.
In his opening speech, Provost Ahmad Dallal launched the collaboration between AUB and Beeatoona and encouraged e-waste recycling for a sustainable environment.
Beeatoona Director Nadine Haddad explained that e-waste includes anything with an electronic board, from monitors to cell phones to toners.
"They turn into e-waste when we stop using them, even if they’re still functional, " she said, adding that e-waste is classified as hazardous waste, containing more than 1000 toxic substances that can contaminate the air, the water, and the soil and can lead to potentially deadly diseases.
Moreover, Haddad noted that based on an assessment made by Beeatoona, 65 percent of Lebanese keep their e-waste at home, "ignoring the health risks of this silent killer."
“I was extremely pleased to see AUB championing the initiative to recycle ewaste,” said newly-minted AUB Vice President for Information Technology (IT) Rita Khayat-Toubia, on the sidelines of the event. “I recognize the amount of ewaste generated by technology and see the urgent need to raise awareness on campus and nationwide about reducing and recycling all kinds of waste, including ewaste.”
Participants were eager to know when Lebanon would be able to provide an e-waste recycling facility that is sustainable.
Minister Rahhal visited the Center for Civic Engagement and Community Services, where e-waste from campus and its vicinity will be dropped and stored until it is collected by Beeatoona. He met with the students and answered their questions. He also said that the government is currently focusing on the proper management of waste, and he encouraged the activists to continue spreading awareness about the dangers of e-waste.
This initiative is part of Beeatoona’s continuous awareness campaign on e-waste; the campaign engages 500 schools in Lebanon and Jordan, a large number of corporations, and educational institutions.
A large number of participants attended the special day and mobilized themselves to make a change for a better environment.
In his opening speech, Provost Ahmad Dallal launched the collaboration between AUB and Beeatoona and encouraged e-waste recycling for a sustainable environment.
Beeatoona Director Nadine Haddad explained that e-waste includes anything with an electronic board, from monitors to cell phones to toners.
"They turn into e-waste when we stop using them, even if they’re still functional, " she said, adding that e-waste is classified as hazardous waste, containing more than 1000 toxic substances that can contaminate the air, the water, and the soil and can lead to potentially deadly diseases.
Moreover, Haddad noted that based on an assessment made by Beeatoona, 65 percent of Lebanese keep their e-waste at home, "ignoring the health risks of this silent killer."
“I was extremely pleased to see AUB championing the initiative to recycle ewaste,” said newly-minted AUB Vice President for Information Technology (IT) Rita Khayat-Toubia, on the sidelines of the event. “I recognize the amount of ewaste generated by technology and see the urgent need to raise awareness on campus and nationwide about reducing and recycling all kinds of waste, including ewaste.”
Participants were eager to know when Lebanon would be able to provide an e-waste recycling facility that is sustainable.
Minister Rahhal visited the Center for Civic Engagement and Community Services, where e-waste from campus and its vicinity will be dropped and stored until it is collected by Beeatoona. He met with the students and answered their questions. He also said that the government is currently focusing on the proper management of waste, and he encouraged the activists to continue spreading awareness about the dangers of e-waste.
This initiative is part of Beeatoona’s continuous awareness campaign on e-waste; the campaign engages 500 schools in Lebanon and Jordan, a large number of corporations, and educational institutions.
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