MIT Solve

Solution Overview

Solution Name

Qumir Llaqta

One-line solution summary.

An integrated system of a smart container and a mobile application that seeks to revalue sustainable tourism, focusing on improving solid waste management in the poorest communities.

What is your solution?

Qumir Llaqta is an integrated system of a smart container and a mobile application that seeks to revalue sustainable tourism, focusing on improving solid waste management in the poorest communities.

One of the functions performed by the smart container is to open when a person is ready to dispose of waste, in addition, when this container is close to being full, it sends signals to the mobile application. These signals are received by government entities in charge of waste management, as well as, garbage collection workers can view it. These data will be sent using SigFox technology, which is implemented in our country Peru almost for the most part. Likewise, it allows data to be sent in no more than 5 seconds, facilitating communication between the container, the application and the people who manage it.

What specific problem are you trying to solve?

In Peru, the last 10 years have generated 10 thousand tons of solid waste. In the capital, Lima, a total of 8,468 tons of garbage are produced daily, causing inactivity in the tourism sector, which was the most affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is worth mentioning that only 1% of the garbage generated in Lima is recycled. It is observed that the lack of awareness about caring for the environment generates consequences such as the destruction of natural ecosystems, which results in the generation of diseases that affect the populations surrounding the places where waste is dumped, being the main affected low-income communities.

Who does your solution serve? In what ways will the solution impact their lives?

Our solution will impact, in the first instance, the lives of Peruvians. Since, it would contribute to a better development and quality of life for people, mainly in low-income communities. The amount of waste thrown into landfills will be reduced, therefore, the budget normally designated for this can be invested in public works and sanitary restoration.
We seek to address their needs through incentives, with virtual ecological currencies "Eco-coins", which will allow them to be used to exchange them for food or personal hygiene items.

What steps have you taken to understand the needs of the population you want to serve?

To understand the needs of low-income populations, we have developed an empathy map that allowed us to recognize the problems that arise. It is worth mentioning that many of us are part of these communities and want to make a change. Likewise, we have been related to companies interested in this type of solutions for our country. That is why we have involved potential users to validate that our solution is of interest and approval for its development.

Which aspects of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?

Taking action to combat climate change and its impacts (Sustainability)

Our solution's stage of development:

Prototype: A venture or organization building and testing its product, service, or business model

Explain why you selected this stage of development for your solution—in other words, what have you accomplished to date?

The mobile application that will connect to the smart container has been designed, however, we have not finished developing the connection between them due to the global context in which we enter.

Where our solution team is headquartered or located:

Lima, Perú

Team Lead:

Lisbeth Rocca Huaman