BitEgreen Market

1. The challenges of Waste Management are critical, and numerous. Bottom line is, that it is not convenient for the average person and business to recycle.

2. We developed a technological system for all persons and businesses that (i) assigns monetary value to reusable and recyclable material, (ii) educates, (iii) ethically analyses data, (iv) markets general products and services, (v) motivates participation via gamification and school programmes, and (vi) provides awards for all citizens and businesses; making it easy to efficiently market, launch, sell and purchase products and services via a circular economy method utilizing recycling and the reduction of various forms of waste (including plastic waste) as a catalyst.  3. We expect this to have measurable impact on reducing litter on the land and seascape with numerous health and economic benefits associated with such; and generate new products and services from recyclable material and thus an increase in new jobs.

Barbados and many Caribbean nations are called Small Island Developing States, and there exist several marine protected areas where the inter-relationship between pollutants originating from human activity in the terrestrial landscape and nearshore marine environment, pose sustainable development challenges.

The litter on public streets, beaches and gullies is a threat to overall environmental health and well-being of approximately 285,000 residents in Barbados and millions more in the Caribbean and Latin America; and is a significant threat to approximately 1.4 million visitors per year tourism industry in Barbados. Studies have shown a significant and direct correlation between tourism competitiveness and the quality of the natural environment (Weldearegay, 2017). Land and marine pollution cause destinations to be unsuitable, since the surrounding beauty quotient decreases; and research showed that less people want to and actually visit places which are polluted and have decaying infrastructure. Inefficient waste management systems result in large amounts of resources being squandered, and cause deterioration or destruction to natural resources inclusive of marine biodiversity. Hence why we are incentivizing wider participation in recycling, tackling issues of sorting garbage at the source related to recycling procedures and inconvenience, and developing a convenient and reliable disposal, and collection network for recyclables.

The litter on public streets and beaches is a threat to overall environmental health and well-being of approximately 285,000 residents in Barbados and even more tourists. It also threatens tourism, marine resources, drainage systems, and is a main contributor to green house gas emissions.

The population whose lives this solution will touch belongs to all demographics and future generations. A crucial part of our solution and system involves working through schools to reach households and businesses to inform on best practices, drive cultural change and improve convenience in sorting garbage at the source. This technological system also utilizes gamification, which is the application of game design elements, techniques and principles to business and social impact challenges to motivate participation and improve engagement towards recovering recyclables for distribution to produce new products, while simultaneously reducing the negative impacts associated with poor waste management.

Our solution is to incentivize wider participation in recycling, tackle issues of sorting garbage at the source, and develop a convenient and reliable disposal, and collection network for recyclables. This system can naturally integrate into existing recycling programmes, while helping to educate users on recycling best practices, address cultural change to engender desired behaviours, reduce costs associated with waste management, and achieve sorting before it is gathered for disposal.

We developed a technological system for all persons and businesses that (1) educates, (2) ethically analyses data, (3) markets general products & services, (4) motivates participation via gamification, (5) provides awards, and (6) assigns monetary value, all around reusing & recycling materials, the reduction of various forms waste and the circular economy; making it easy to efficiently market, launch, sell and purchase your products and services while being socially and environmentally responsible.

We developed a new technological and integrated operational system for all persons and businesses that (1) educates, (2) ethically analyses data, (3) markets general products & services, (4) motivates participation via gamification, (5) provides awards, and (6) assigns monetary value, all around reusing & recycling materials, the reduction of various forms waste and the circular economy; making it easy to efficiently market, launch, sell and purchase your products and services while being socially and environmentally responsible.

The system which uses gamification – that is the application of game design elements, techniques and principles to business and social impact challenges to motivate participation and improve engagement; is capable of using barcode scanner scales, smart trash cans, reverse vending machines, mobile phones and an integrated online marketplace that makes it possible to assign monetary value to recycled material for use in purchasing the products and services. The system naturally integrates into existing recycling programmes and is an integrated effort using schools, students and the corporate sector (inclusive of the hotel sector) as main drivers of the programme; while it helps to educate users (via schools, the mobile app and gamification process) and addresses cultural change to engender desired behaviours.

In dialogue with average citizens, school principals, businesses and recycling companies about the matter, it was noted that persons were generally interested, but did not know how to recycle; or felt that delivery of recyclables was inconvenient for them, and infrastructure was lacking regarding collection of recyclables; and others indicated that they will do it mainly for an incentive. There was also concern raised by the Principal of a school about the uncertainty of collection for recyclables stored from an existing in-house programme. 

However, discussions linked to the Sanitation Service Authority of Barbados indicated that waste from items supported within the Returnable Containers Act of Barbados which commenced in 1987, was significantly less in the landfill compared to waste from products not supported under the Act. This difference is due to persons being allowed to return the relative bottles at depots located at stores or sorters/recyclers for receipt of cash or purchasing benefit within stores.

Additionally, it has been determined from reports on countries exhibiting the most efficient recycling procedures, that pre-sorted garbage both within residential homes and business places, rather than sorting recyclables after they have been combined with general garbage, is key to success of recycling endeavours. Similar factors were expressed in the final report of the “Waste Characterization Study for Barbados 2015” undertaken by the Project Management Coordination Unit of the Ministry of Environment and Drainage; in addition to a related report on Barbados retrieved online from the United Nations; shown below:

(1) https://www.barbadosparliament.com/uploads/sittings/attachments/b7fafa53eab7cd2cb9f2368bbb2aff5a.pdf 

(2) http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/dsd_aofw_ni/ni_pdfs/NationalReports/barbados/WASTE_MANAGEMENT.pdf   

We are currently at the prototype phase serving three departments in a major organization. We expect to serve most of the population of Barbados of around 150,000 persons initially in one year and be available worldwide to any capable person and business in five years as a technological platform is a major part of our solution.

Our solution will be measured in relation to environmental, social and economical impacts, as these areas are integrated directly in our system.

BitEgreen is designed as a social enterprise capable of being replicated anywhere, with a focus on the circular economy, which is designed to use resources efficiently, and for as long as possible, extracting as much value from them as is practicable to recover & regenerate products and materials. This project also seeks to assist in addressing multiple sustainable development goals. We expect to serve most of the population of Barbados of around 150,000 persons initially in one year and be available worldwide to any capable person and business in five years as a technological platform is a major part of our solution.

Cost savings on wide range of purchases.

Means of consolidating coins for easier spending power.

Convenient disposal of recyclables.

Recognition and award promotion as a green and responsible business toward reduction of global pollution.

Prominence or increased visibility based on level of involvement.

Platform for promoting and offering products for sale, while simultaneously being socially responsible.

A chance to be rewarded and promoted based on performance.

Increased revenues and reduced costs.

Available data useful for marketing.

Efficiently sort and collect recyclables before they reach the landfill (i.e. within homes and businesses).

Provide tangible data on consumer recycling and habits.

Incentivize wider participation in recycling best practices by the population through providing rewards that appeal to a broader cross section of society

Expect a measurable impact on reducing litter on land and seascape & to keep recyclables out of the waste stream.

Production of new products and services from recyclable material. 

The foundational barrier is funding which should assist with helping to cross all other barriers whether be it through legal necessities or public sensitization.

We are soon scheduled to be approved and receive two phases of funding through a programmed under the United Nations which should help to address some of those barriers we currently face. However, the process is a lengthy.

TEN Habitat (The Entrepreneurial Network) provided a mentor to assist in the design thinking process of the Founder, and our technology team (individual consultants) brought the design of the system to life through design of a technological system which would be available for user and public feedback to finalize the specifications and design of the BiitEgreen system.

This solution is presently being supported for further assistance under a United Nations Development Programme in Barbados. The Ministry of Environment and National Beautification of Barbados has expressed a willingness to assist with the coordination of the system related to schools and any other area where possible; and various partners needed to test the ecosystem have been engaged. This system is designed to utilize partnerships with other initiatives to enhance their success.

Meet the team via this link.

Within our team, there is sound knowledge in a wide range of natural resource and environmental management issues including coastal and marine resource management, general natural resource management, climate change, health and sustainable tourism; complemented by expertise in project management, law, information communications technology (ICT), behavioural change, public awareness, innovation and education.

TEN Habitat (The Entrepreneurial Network) provided a mentor to assist in the design thinking process of the Founder, and our technology team (individual consultants) brought the design of the system to life through design of a technological system which would be available for user and public feedback to finalize the specifications and design of the BiitEgreen system
.

This solution is presently being supported for further assistance under two programmes of the United Nations Development Programme, in Barbados. The Ministry of Environment and National Beautification of Barbados has expressed a willingness to assist with the coordination of the system related to schools and any other area where possible; and various partners needed to test the ecosystem have been engaged. This system is designed to utilize partnerships with other initiatives to enhance their success.

We create value for: 1) International Development Agencies, 2) Governments, 3) Manufacturers, 4) Home owners, 5) Hoteliers, 6) Tourists, and 8) Consumers that are *a) budget conscious, *b) tech-savvy *c) environmentally or *d) socially responsible.

We developed a technological system for all persons and businesses that (1) educates on best practices, (2) ethically analyses data, (3) markets general products and services, (4) motivates participation via gamification, (5) provides awards, and (6) assigns monetary value, all around reusing and recycling materials, the reduction of various forms waste and the circular economy; making it easy to efficiently market, launch, sell and purchase your products and services while being socially and environmentally responsible. 

The business model is a Social Enterprise (embeddedd/integrated).

Funding, access and partnership in developing a global product.

IDB, UNDP, UNEP, UN Habitat, EU and The Audacious Project.