WE The Recycling Company – Creating a Closed Circuit of Electronic Products
Woman-led, Indian start-up WE The Recycling Company is dedicated to make an impact on the current handling of e-waste in India. The young company offers various services concerning sustainable e-waste management for businesses and private consumers.
Considering the whole product life cycle, their services include waste management consultancy, EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) compliance management and refurbishing and recycling of disposed electronics. Furthermore, the start-up team creates social impact by organizing awareness campaigns, creating jobs in local communities as well as educating informal waste workers on safe and sustainable ways to handle e-waste. Their goal is to build a closed-loop system by extending product life and adopting safer, more responsible ways to reuse and dispose of e-waste. For these reasons, the International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre presented WE The Recycling Company as the ISC3 Start-up of the Month for June 2025.
Steh Indian start-up promotes and offers repair, refurbishment, and reuse of electronic devices to extend their functional lifespan. Through these programmes, they provide affordable electronics to low-income families, bridging the digital gap. Socially, their initiative creates jobs in local communities. WE establishes accessible collection points and community programs to ensure e-waste is gathered safely and responsibly, preventing hazardous waste from entering landfills or the informal recycling sector. (The informal sector refers to unregulated, often unsafe recycling activities carried out by individuals or small-scale operators without formal oversight or protective measures.) Additionally, the company continues to amplify awareness campaigns in educational institutions, companies and NGOs, with special emphasis on youth and women, to build a culture of environmental responsibility and inclusion at the grassroots level.
The whole success story of the ISC3 Start-up of the Month in June 2025 is currently told by the ISC3 on its website at Start-up WE The Recycling Company (isc3.org).
Three questions for Payal Nandurkar (Founder & CEO of WE The Recycling Company):
What led to your solution in Sustainable Chemistry?
Payal Nandurkar: The idea behind founding WE The Recycling Company was born out of a personal observation that quickly turned into a deep concern. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I noticed an overwhelming increase in the use of electronic devices – phones, laptops, tablets – as people shifted to digital platforms for work, study, and daily life. But along with this digital surge came a silent, growing problem: electronic waste. I witnessed large, unmanaged discarded electronics in cities, dumped carelessly, with no awareness of the health or environmental hazards they posed. This troubling sight sparked a deep curiosity in me. I realized that India urgently needed a sustainable, community-driven solution – one that combined awareness, education, and responsible recycling practices. The idea was not just to collect waste but to create a movement where everyone – individuals, businesses, governments – works together to tackle this growing challenge.
What does being chosen as ISC3 Start-up of the Month mean to you?
P. Nandurkar: WE The Recycling Company is not just about collecting e-waste – it's about reimagining waste as a resource, using the power of community, chemistry, and technology to build a cleaner, more conscious India. Thus, being recognized as the Start-up of the Month is a validation of our purpose, passion, and perseverance. This recognition signifies that our efforts toward responsible e-waste management and community-driven environmental awareness are making a meaningful difference. It’s a moment of pride, but also a reminder of the responsibility we carry – to innovate, to educate, and to lead by example. This milestone fuels our mission to build a cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable India, where waste is managed with wisdom and the future is protected with purpose.
What’s next up at WE The Recycling Company?
P. Nandurkar: Our vision is to create a closed-loop system where waste is not just discarded but transformed into meaningful, reusable resources that serve both people and the planet. A key focus will be on building inclusive value chains where communities, especially youth and women, play an active role in collection, processing, and innovation.
I truly believe that even small, consistent efforts can lead to significant change. By raising awareness and gradually shifting people’s attitudes toward responsible e-waste disposal, we can transform our cities into cleaner, more sustainable places to live. My vision is to see a future where, along with building a Digital India, we are equally committed to creating a Clean India.
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