The E-Waste Project to Host 2nd Iteration of ESCON in 2026!

QUEZON CITY, Philippines —Amid the country’s ongoing e-waste pollution problem, UP Circuit, a student organization affiliated with the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute (EEEI) of UP Diliman, continues its advocacy through The E-waste Project (TEP), a campaign that aims to raise awareness about the e-waste crisis. 

Marking its 14th consecutive year, TEP continues to work towards its goal of a more sustainable future with this year’s Electronics Sustainability Convention (ESCON), featuring the theme, “sTEPping Up: Advancing E-Waste Solutions for a Sustainable Digital Future.” Set to be held this August 29-30, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the GT-Toyota Asian Center, UP Diliman, ESCON is a national convention that brings together stakeholders, experts, and volunteers to engage in insightful discussions on sustainable solutions to the growing e-waste crisis in the country.

Ahead of its main event, ESCON 2026 will continue to feature competitions that encourage participants to showcase well-thought-out and creative ways to manage and regulate e-waste. The event will include the Pitch Competition, open to high school students and college undergraduates, where participants present their innovative solutions to the country’s e-waste crisis. Forming groups of three to four people, participants first submitted their proposed solutions during the WOCEE rounds, which took place last August 7 at the World of Consumer Electronics Expo (WOCEE). The champion, Manresa School’s Team Wire we Here, took home 3,000 PHP in cash prizes, and all competitors were invited to join the ESCON round of the competition.

Moreover, ESCON will hold the E-Waste Upcycling Challenge, a 3D sculpture competition open to senior high school and undergraduate students, where recycled e-waste will be used to build art structures that reflect this event’s theme. For the Pitch Competition and E-Waste Upcycling Challenge, participants can compete for a prize pool amounting to PHP 15, 000.

The event will also feature Symposium Talks by renowned experts and advocates discussing the current e-waste disposal in the country and innovations aimed at reducing electronic pollution. 

The convention will conclude with a Roundtable Discussion, which will synthesize the participants’ insights throughout the event by guiding them to collaborate with industry specialists and experts. These discussions aim to explore sustainable approaches and develop a practical framework that will help communities manage the ongoing e-waste crisis. Additionally, participants can also visit booth exhibits that cover different areas of sustainability initiatives, as well as booths where they can drop off their e-waste.

The success of last year’s ESCON, TEP’s first iteration, marked a new milestone for UP Circuit in advancing its advocacy for innovation and sustainability through technology. Thus, the organization aims for another successful and meaningful iteration of ESCON in 2026, one that would continue to uphold its mission of serving a wider community with honor, excellence, and public service.

For more details, contact The E-Waste Project via our Facebook page or at [email protected].