Turn your trash into cash? Find out what is TrashCash
TRASHCASH – It is a Filipino-made mobile application that helps users exchange trash for rewards.
It was developed by software developer Benjo Vidal along with his friend. The app can be used by communities to turn plastic waste into rewards.
According to him, TrashCash has an e-wallet where you can save your points.
He cited for example the exchange rate of plastic bottles which is five to eight points per kilo.
The points can be used to redeem the rewards provided by the barangays.
At press time, the TrashCash application is being used by two barangays; one in Calamba, Laguna, and the other one is in Tondo, Manila.
Both locations are being referred to as “community partners,” who have the freedom to choose what rewards they are going to give.
Vidal said that one of the rewards given by the community partners is insurance while some offer rice as well as school kits in exchange for the plastics being deposited.
Based on the report of GMA News, the plastics collected from the residents are given to their partners such as Clean Our Oceans Project, an organization that advocates marine observation through consumer behavior, for repurposing.
Vidal and his friend are hoping that they will be able to partner with more local government units in the future.
Meanwhile, based on the data of the United Nations Environment Programme, at least one million plastic bottles are bought per minute.
Aside from that, five trillion single-use plastic bags are being used every year around the world.
Moreover, eight million tons of plastic reach the oceans per year. Therefore, it is possible that there will be more trash than fish in the year 2050.
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