THE E-WASTE PROJECT
Amidst COVID, TEP goes online for 9th year
After its postponement last year due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, UP Circuit brought back The E-Waste Project (TEP) as a social media campaign last April-June 2021 — a continuation of the organization’s flagship social advocacy.
Held via TEP’s official Facebook and Twitter pages, this year’s edition was centered on promoting awareness online about electronic waste (e-waste), its proper disposal, and management. Barred from holding the traditional collection drive due to COVID-19, the organizers chose to pivot to educational infographics, webinars, and various mini-events.
“We had to consider what would be informative and, at the same time, easy to look at and understand, so that even people who have no prior knowledge about e-waste would still understand our point,” said Samantha Oguing, one of this year’s heads for TEP, on the shift online.
Every week, TEP published infographics that impart research-based facts and data about e-waste. Beyond numbers, it also debuted the educational comic series “E-Boy Adventures,” featuring the story of a robot made from recycled e-waste. Moreover, minigames and raffles were held to encourage engagement for the campaign.
As for webinars, the first episode of “#TEPTalks” was held last April 23, wherein speakers Dr. Eulalio R. Guieb III (an anthropologist) and Aileen Lucero (the National Coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition) tackled the importance of considering e-waste in technological innovation, as well as its environmental and health impacts, to students and professionals from different educational institutions, organizations, and fields.
“After the webinar, I researched more [about] the topic, hoping na [that] I can learn more and pass what I’ve learned sa aking [to my] friends na di nakapag-attend [who weren’t able to attend]. Para kahit papaano, makatulong kami sa pag-lessen ng problema [So that, in our own ways, we can help mitigate the problem] by being aware and taking steps (like recycling),” remarked Julienne Beatrice Bobadilla, one of #TEPTalks’ participants.
Now in its ninth year, The E-Waste Project is UP Circuit’s annual social advocacy project aimed at raising awareness about the environmental impacts of e-waste. This year’s edition was made possible through the leadership of members Jewel Cusipag (18A) and Samantha Oguing (18A).
