This article has been sponsored by Hulladek Recycling.

At the Calcutta International School, the bell signals more than just the start of another day — it marks the beginning of a movement led by the school’s youngest environmentalists. Here, students step into the classroom with old gadgets in hand: discarded computer parts, laptops, obsolete mobile phones, and tangled earphones — all destined for the school’s dedicated e-waste bin.

On scheduled days, students eagerly gather e-waste, shepherding it to the central collection point under the watchful eyes of their chosen volunteers from class. “These volunteers oversee the collection process, ensuring all collected items are properly deposited in designated bins. They also encourage class-wide participation through creative poster campaigns and friendly competitions between classes,” says the school principal, Tina Servaia.

Speaking on the cultural shift at the school, she adds, “This initiative began three years ago, and we’ve noticed a ripple effect, where students not only engage at school but also influence their families and communities to adopt more environmentally responsible behaviours. With these efforts, our school has moved beyond mere newspaper and general waste management drives of the past,” she adds.

What began as a class project quickly gained momentum. In school assemblies and workshops, the ideology of environmental consciousness is further ingrained in students. “These platforms reinforce the importance of responsible consumption, especially considering students have unfettered access to smart boards, laptops, and Wi-Fi,” says the principal.

Integral to this initiative’s success is its collaboration with West Bengal-based Hulladek Recycling, led by its founder and managing director, Nandan Mall. In conversation with The Better India, they reveal how the company represents a paradigm shift in India’s approach to e-waste management.

Turning college fest idea into e-waste revolution

Nandan’s journey — from formulating the idea during his college days at St. Xavier’s to establishing a thriving e-waste management company — echoes the transformative influence of sustainability.

He shares, “Hulladek started as a business plan I presented during a college fest at St. Xavier’s. I proposed a model for collecting and recycling electronic waste — it won me the competition and an internship at E-Parisaraa, one of India’s oldest e-waste recyclers. That experience changed the course of my life.”

Nandan spent two years working with a waste management company in Bilbao, Spain, rotating through procurement, logistics, operations, and dismantling. That global exposure helped him build a solid foundation for Hulladek Recycling when he returned to India in 2014.

“Hulladek is a Hungarian word for ‘waste’ — a nod to the universal nature of the problem we’re trying to solve. I’ve always........

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