Dialog launches islandwide e-Kunu programme for responsible e-waste management

From left: Cleantech (Pvt.) Ltd Head of Branding and Communications Vipula Gunarathne, Cleantech (Pvt.) Ltd Manager Environment and Sustainability Zev Pestonjee, Cleantech (Pvt.) Ltd Senior Manager Circular Economy Services Kasun Thennakoon, Cleantech (Pvt.) Ltd CEO Rukitha Nanayakkara, Dialog Axiata PLC Group Chief of Risk and Compliance Asanga Priyadarshana, Dialog Axiata PLC Senior Manager Social Innovation Asith De Silva, Dialog Axiata PLC Specialist Sustainability Execution Ashini Pothupitiya and Executive Operations Engineer Sustainability and CSR Akila Lakshan

Dialog Axiata PLC launched the e-Kunu programme, one of its product responsibility initiatives, aiming to transform e-waste management in Sri Lanka, by responsibly collecting and recycling electronic waste from Dialog Customer Experience Centres islandwide.
Building on the success of Dialog’s National ‘mWaste’ project, which began in 2008 and later became part of the National E-waste programme in 2014, e-Kunu goes beyond mobile waste to encompass a wide range of electronic items. From mobile phones and laptops to chargers, batteries, printers and more, e-Kunu establishes an end-to-end disposal chain, adhering to local and international standards regulated by the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) of Sri Lanka and in accordance with the Basel Convention for the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes and their disposal.

The initiative aligns with Dialog’s commitment as a responsible corporate citizen, to promote sustainable waste management solutions and protect the environment. By educating customers and the public on the hazards of improper e-waste disposal and encouraging responsible recycling, Dialog aims to reinforce its environmental responsibilities, in compliance with ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems standard, for which the company gained certification in 2021. Further, this initiative aims to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goal 13: Climate Action.
e-Kunu is a collective effort that relies on the active participation of customers, employees and the public to create an environmentally conscious community. Dialog signed an MoU with Cleantech (Pvt.) Limited, with the aim of leading the way in responsible e-waste management and set a positive example for other companies, while fostering a sustainable future for Sri Lanka.