This Man Turned a College Fest Idea into a ₹20 Crore Green Empire That Saved 15 Million Kgs of E-Waste 📦
- Admin
- Jun 5
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 19
🌱 From Classrooms to Consciousness: A Student-Led Green RevolutionAt Calcutta International School, the morning bell rings not just for attendance — it signals a mission in motion. Students walk into school carrying more than books: outdated laptops, broken phones, old wires, and e-waste destined for a better end.
In neat bins placed across campus, this once-forgotten trash is now a symbol of transformation. Guided by student volunteers, every collection day is a chance to inspire, recycle, and rethink waste. “It’s more than participation — it’s a movement,” says Principal Tina Servaia. “From classrooms to homes, students are influencing eco-conscious behavior across generations.”
⚡ A College Fest Idea That Sparked a National MovementThis silent environmental revolution has roots in a college competition. During his time at St. Xavier’s College, Nandan Mall proposed a model to collect and recycle electronic waste — and it won. That idea became Hulladek Recycling, today one of India’s foremost e-waste management firms.
“Winning that contest earned me an internship at E-Parisaraa — India’s pioneer in e-waste recycling. It changed my life,” recalls Nandan.
His journey took him to Spain, where he worked across logistics, dismantling, and operations in waste management. When he returned to India in 2014, he brought global expertise — and a mission.
“Hulladek,” meaning “waste” in Hungarian, was born from a belief that waste is not a problem — it’s a resource waiting to be recovered.
🔋 The Hidden Gold in E-Waste: A Crisis Turned OpportunityEvery old mobile, tangled charger, or retired appliance is more than junk. These items hold precious metals like gold, copper, and silver, but they also carry toxic threats — mercury, lead, cadmium — that silently seep into our earth when dumped carelessly.
While plastic pollution is now widely discussed, e-waste remains India’s most dangerous and least acknowledged crisis. That’s where Hulladek steps in — not just as a recycler, but as a reformer.
🏢 Two-Front Strategy: Households and Corporates AlikeHulladek’s dual model addresses both individuals and industries:✅ B2C (Consumer-facing) drives bring doorstep collections and awareness campaigns across cities.✅ B2B (Corporate partnerships) manage compliance, data destruction, and certified disposal for major brands like Tata Steel, Godrej, Coca-Cola, and Mondelez.
The 2022 E-Waste (Management) Rules make such efforts essential — mandating up to 80% e-waste recycling by 2027. Hulladek helps companies meet these targets ethically and transparently.
👩🔧 Powered by Purpose, Led by WomenBehind Hulladek’s systems is a young, vibrant, and largely female-led team. “Our average age is 27. We’re proud of our innovation and our inclusion,” shares Shreya Khandelia, EVP of Recycler Relations.
From material segregation to responsible upcycling, every step is monitored to surpass environmental standards — a far cry from the unregulated kabadiwala system.
🌏 Scaling Awareness, One Bin at a TimeWith over 60 centres across India and nearly 500 awareness sessions annually, Hulladek is changing how India sees — and sorts — e-waste.
From Kolkata to Surat, Agartala to Jaipur, their iconic bins placed in schools, public spaces, and offices serve as daily reminders of the environmental choices we all make.
“Many knew about plastic waste. But e-waste? It was invisible,” says Priyasha Singhania, EVP of Branding. “Changing that perception has taken years of groundwork.”
🤝 Beyond Waste: Building Partnerships for ImpactHulladek has collaborated with State Pollution Control Boards in Assam, Gujarat, Andaman, Delhi, Nagaland, and Punjab. These alliances aren't token gestures — they’re training, empowering, and enabling communities to act with awareness and purpose.
The company today manages e-waste for 300+ institutions, including schools and corporate houses like GTPL KCPL, which alone had over 40 lakh cable TV boxes to process.
“Earlier, we sold scrap to unregulated vendors. With Hulladek, we found a responsible, CSR-aligned solution,” says GTPL Director Ankit Agarwal.
♻️ The Real Power Lies in What We Teach Our ChildrenWith over 25 million kilograms of waste — including 15 million kilograms of e-waste — diverted from landfills, Hulladek’s journey is a testament to the ripple effect of right action.
Their partnership with schools like Calcutta International School showcases the transformation of young consumers into conscious citizens.
“These children are now voices for the planet,” Tina proudly shares. “They remind us that real change often begins in classrooms, not boardrooms.”
📊 By the Numbers
🧾 ₹20 crore turnover
🔄 15 million+ kgs of e-waste recycled
🏫 300+ clients including top corporates & schools
🛠️ 500+ awareness sessions annually
🧍♀️ 60%+ women-led workforce
🌍 Operations across multiple states and cities
💡 Final Word from the Founder“When life gives you lemonade, we make lemons. That’s recycling,” laughs Nandan.
But behind the humor is a serious truth — what we throw away today can power a greener tomorrow. Hulladek is not just changing waste management in India — it’s redefining responsibility for the digital age.
📣 Editorial Note:Hulladek’s story reminds us that bold ideas can begin anywhere — even in a college fest. But it takes commitment, creativity, and a conscience to turn them into national revolutions. As young minds lead the charge and startups bring change, India’s waste management future is no longer in the dumps — it’s rising with every recycled wire, every reused chip, and every informed choice.
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