Cardano Recycling DApp

[IMPACT]

Our solution is to create an appropriate platform (progressive web application) where institutions (government and private) will connect their generated recyclable plastic waste directly to recycling agencies for incentivization without any third parties who usually pick up this waste free of charge.

Since the problem we are looking to solve is a global problem, our solution is also going to be for global use. However, the pilot program will be launched in Ghana, specifically in Kumasi.

Why did we choose Ghana (Kumasi) for the pilot program?

Our project partner, Premier Waste Recycling Agency, is situated in that region and has been conducting community buy-backs of plastic waste over the past 5 years, which gives us the opportunity to connect some of these institutions located there to our platform easily. Because of their reputation and good work, some institutions are willing to embark on the pilot program in the region, and this puts us in a good position to successfully execute the project.

Get to know Premier Waste recycling agency: https://www.modernghana.com/news/1116850/premier-waste-ghana-enjoys-visit-from-european.html

What is the relevant use case?

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/world-economic-forum_indonesia-generates-6-million-tonnes-of-plastic-ugcPost-6859881682879746048-vL6O

What is our module?

• A well-built progressive web application with a fine graphical user interface.
• The progressive web application will have an in-built map with the utmost clarity to allow easy tracing to pick-up locations by recycling agencies.
• Recycling agencies set the date and time for pick up in a community, and all connected institutions in that community get notified.
• A day before pick-up time is due, connected institutions in the community that have enough recyclable plastic waste for pick-up, click a button on the platform to request a pick-up. On request, they provide the details: quantity (weight), purity (cleanness level), distance (location), and selling price out of the selling structure (waste cost in ADA) of the weight of the waste they have so far.
• Once the smart contract is started by the user/giver (institution), in less than 24 hours, it must be completed in order to prevent a loss in asset value.
• The user/giver (institution) would always be the one to start the Smart Contract after the pick-up date has been set by the receiver (recycling agency). The Smart Contract would only close after the validation of Quantity, Purity, Distance, and Cost by the receiver (recycling agency) has been completed by the receiver (recycling agency).
• integrated into the Cardano Blockchain to record transactions.
• A single-digit percentage would be charged as a transaction fee to cater to the maintenance of the platform.

This is a very important question that the proposal considers keenly. In its simplest form, the Cardano Recycling DApp seeks to establish a platform that would encourage waste separation from various sources of waste generation, including institutions (private and government) and recycling agencies. The proposal addresses this challenge by way of providing rewards and incentives to stakeholders (households, private and government institutions, and recycling agencies) in the recycling sector using the DApp and smart contracts.

Again, the creation of the DApp does not only provide business solutions but also removes middlemen and directly connects households, private, and government institutions to recycling agencies. The smart contract establishes a relationship that enables households, private and government institutions to separate waste from its source as consumers, and the DApp creates an avenue to exchange plastic waste for incentive. The recycling agencies would, through the DApp, engage in direct pick-up. That would save time and cost in plastic waste collection and waste recovery. Hence, reducing production costs and allowing for the smooth operation of recycling processes.

Directly and indirectly, this proposal would create employment and increase the income of stakeholders involved in the recycling value chain.

Our long-term vision is to extend the usage of this platform from just institutions to households through the creation of a mobile application. With a successful mobile application, it can be guaranteed that the solution will be adopted globally as mobile applications are less difficult to operate and a large percentage of the total population can afford a mobile phone. After successful onboarding, it can then be assured that 98% of recyclable plastic waste generated across the world will end up in the recycling hubs for recycling purposes.

Local/Global Impact?

This platform is estimated to have three (3) main impacts on the local/global community;

Recycling Agencies: According to research, plastic recycling agencies incur extra costs and time in performing waste segregation and cleansing. Wastes generated in institutions are usually not segregated and thus appear in mixed variants like medical waste, food waste, plastic waste, metal waste, etc., all mixed together. This practice leaves the recyclable plastics among the waste vulnerable and exposed to dirt.

For recycling activities, the plastic waste that is dirty must be cleansed before continuing with the further process of turning it into PET. This policy implies that recycling agencies who come across such recyclable plastics must incur extra time and cost in ensuring cleansing, and this causes delays in the workflow.

Through our initiative, waste segregation bins meant only for recyclable plastic waste will be distributed to institutions in addition to education on why they need to practice waste segregation from their point. 

The impact of this is to cut the extra cost and time that usually needs to be incurred by recycling agencies and boost the workflow as they’re able to focus on recycling and not segregation, which would be done by institutions.

Institutions: Locally, institutions, which are a good source of recyclable plastic waste, do not get any value from the recyclable plastic waste they generate in their environs. Yet, they pay waste collection agencies for the collection of their waste. This compiled waste is usually a mixture of food waste, metal waste, plastic waste, paper waste, etc. 

This is due to the fact that most institutions do not know the value of recyclable plastic waste, the benefits of recycling, and the means for practising waste segregation.

Through our initiative, through the workshop, the various institutions that sign up for the pilot program will be educated on why it is important to practice waste segregation at their point, what the value of recyclable plastic waste is, and lastly, they will be presented with waste segregation bins specifically for recyclable plastic waste collection.

The impact of this is to ensure that recyclable plastic waste is now seen to be valuable by institutions, and through the incentivization, another revenue gate is opened to them.

Environment: What would happen to the external environment of institutions if all their plastic waste was kept within? The answer is, the external environment would almost be free from plastic waste pollution. 

We believe in this theory because our initiative seeks to empower institutions to encourage all employees and customers to dispose of their used recyclable plastic into the recyclable plastic segregation bin. By doing so, no recyclable plastic waste gets the chance to end up in the oceans and/or on the streets, thus satisfying SDG 1, 12, 13, and 14.

As said by Kevin Alexander Leon, a United States politician:

“Recycling more plastics can help local businesses and expand jobs while supporting the goals of sustainability.”

Recycling of plastic waste is essential for good climate conditions:

https://www.wwf.org.au/news/blogs/plastic-waste-and-climate-change-whats-the-connection#gs.h3ibit

Our motivation:

Institutions’ negative attitude towards the adoption of blockchain technology and its solutions: Through our workshop and expertise, institutions will be able to realize how effective blockchain technology and its solutions can be to their business processes. Well, articulated demonstrations that will take place at the workshop will drive understanding and adoption as well as clear trust issues and misconceptions.

[FEASIBILITY]

Project Roadmap

The team, after missing the fund 7 funding opportunity by $14,630, has decided to split the roadmap and budget of the project into 2 phases. This proposal seeks funds to successfully complete the first phase of the roadmap set by the team, which is a 3-month call to action. However, the team, after successful implementation of the first phase, would put together another proposal to seek funding to complete the second phase of the project.

Three months post-funding:

• User Research. [ 1st week - education & research team ]
• Completely build and host a website for the project progress announcement. [ 2nd & 3rd week - technical team ]
• Completely build Cardano Recycling platform and launch to test-net. [ 4th, 5th, and 6th week - technical team ]
• Organize and host a workshop to educate the recycling agency and institutions on how to use the platform, Cardano, project catalyst, and stake pools. Also, distribute recycling bins to institutions that sign up for the pilot program. [ 7th and 8th week - event organizing team ]
• Monitor recycling agency (Premier Waste Recycling Agency) and signed-up institutions utilize the platform for the very first time successfully and troubleshoot for any errors. [ 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th week - tech team ]

Catalyst fund 7 grant exhausted

• Users' Research: $5,300
• Frontend Development: $6,000
• Smart Contract Development: $4,350
• Backend Development: $12,000
• Project Management: $1,800
• Administrative Costs (Hostings, GSuite, P.M Tools, Legal Fees, etc.): $4,300
• Workshop Organizing Cost (Event space, media coverage, snacks, etc.): $3000 
• Workshop Marketing/Advertising: $2,000
• Waste segregation bins: $50.80 x 20 units = $1,016
• Weekly Team Meetings: $4,320
• Miscellaneous: $500

This project is backed by a collaborative effort from a team with a wealth of environmental, cultural, and technical experience in the Cardano community. They are a diverse bunch united by the Promise of Cardano and a common goal of contributing to the satisfaction of SDG 1, 12, 13, and 14:

Richmond Oppong: Richmond is a graphic designer with over 10 years of experience in logo design and marketing. He holds a Higher National Diploma in Graphic Design and Marketing from Takoradi Polytechnic, Takoradi-Ghana. Richmond is a blockchain enthusiast and is actively part of the Cardano project catalyst community. 

Role: Marketing and workshop organisation.

Telegram: @Holiouz

Email: richmond@wada.org

Daniel D. Lezu: Daniel is a front-end developer with more than five years of experience. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from Bluecrest College and a Professional Diploma in Software Engineering from IPMC Ghana. He is passionate about cloud computing, cyber security, and decentralized applications. He was a Community Advisor in Catalyst Fund 7 and the Catalyst Challenge Team Lead for ‘Scale-UP Cardano’s Community Hubs’ challenge setting for Fund 8. He envisioned using Blockchain Technology to bridge the gap between human capabilities and machine learning (AI & IoT). He is currently involved in the Plutus Pioneer program.

Role: Front-end Development.

Telegram: @ddlezu

Email: daniel@wada.org

Gertrude Adotey: Gertrude is a student offering her BSc. in Information Technology at Ghana Communication Technology University. She has a colossal knowledge of events management (light touch training centre). She is part of a Blockchain community. Gertrude has worked with McBranon Travels doing entries and is currently exploring other useful fields which could aid in combating climate change and its effects. 

Role: Marketing and workshop organization.

Telegram: @MsTrudy

Email: gertrudeariche@gmail.com

Dabuo Bismark: Bismark is a biochemist with vast experience in diseases, and the biochemical components of substances ( living and non-living). He is well endowed with knowledge and leadership experience, both national and international. Bismark has been involved with several programs, ranging from health and wellness to environmental problems. Bismark holds a BSc in biochemistry and chemistry with a biochemistry major. He is currently working as a researcher at the Noguchi Memorial Institute of Medical Research (department of Clinical Pathology). as well as exploring new areas. He also graduated from the United Nations Millennium Fellowship class of 2021, with an interest in educating, empowering, and creating awareness in communities that will help improve the lives of individuals.

Role: Education and research.

Telegram: @bdabuo

Email: bismarkdabuo98@gmail.com

Angela Okai-Nartey: Angela is a digital marketer. She holds a Digital Marketing Certificate from Google Digital Workshop and a bachelor's degree in Information Technology from Ghana Communication Technology University. Angela is a blockchain enthusiast, She has been a community advisor since Fund 6. A challenge team member for Scale-UP Cardano Community Hubs in Fund 8.

Role: Marketing and workshop organization.

Telegram: @Maame_Akua_1

Email: angela.nartey@wada.org

Afia Owusu: Afia is a natural resources manager with vast experience in Environmental / Conservation Education. She has immersed knowledge of national and global problems in biodiversity conservation and has been involved with several programs in natural resource management. Afia holds an MSc degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Lancaster, UK, and a BSC. (Hons) in Natural Resources Management, University of Science and Technology (UST), Kumasi, Ghana. Afia is a Ghanaian, and currently exploring new areas of sustainable development including Blockchain Education. Her interest is to educate and create awareness in communities to improve livelihood options among local people.

Role: Education and research.

Telegram: @AfiaAOwusu

Email: afia@wada.org

Nana Safo: Wada University Ambassador-Ghana, Community Ambassador to Landano B.V (Catalyst funded project), Active Cardano and Catalyst Community Member since Fund 4, Time With Nana Safo [workshop for educating Ghanaians who are new to the Cardano community] host, BSc. Information Technology and a passionate environmental care advocate and teacher.

Role: Project lead and management.

Telegram: @Nana_Safo_01

Email: nana.safo@wada.org

Christopher Aikins: Christopher is a Senior Accounting Assistant with the Volta River Authority, who is good at holding strong ethical standards and good at implementing change. He holds MSc degree in Accounting and Finance from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology(KNUST), BSc Business Administration(Accounting) KNUST, Higher National Diploma in Accountancy from Cape Coast Technical University. He enjoys researching and surfing the internet to learn new development in the technology world. He believes in blockchain architecture and feels it solves many problems. He has been a community advisor and voter in the project catalyst funding cycle since fund 4 and is now a challenge team member of the Scale-Up Cardano community Hub challenge setting for fund 8.

Role: Auditing and administration.

Telegram: @chris_aikins

Mail: chrisaiks@gmail.com

Nathaniel Dwamena: He has a B.A (Hons) in Geography and Rural Development. He is a researcher and has more than seven years of experience in think tank development, non-profit management, and business development consulting. He was part of the team contracted by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ Ghana) to conduct a study on red tape for doing business in Ghana. He successfully completed think tank training in Nigeria and project management training in Kenya, which aided in his successful graduation from the Atlas Leadership Academy, Atlas Network (USA). He is a member of Wada, and Fund 7, and a community advisor. 

Role: Education and research.

Telegram: @Nana_Dwamena

Email: natdwamena@gmail.com

Genty Samvura: Wada Business Initiatives Lead, DRC Wada Coordinator. M.A in Economics with several years experience in banking and public policy. I completed the Plutus Pioneer and Atala Prism Pioneer Programs. Haskell and Plutus trainer in Wada and Gimbalabs Education programs, Smart Contract Developer and entrepreneur.

Role: Smart Contract Development.

Telegram: @fsamvura

Email: fsamvura@wada.org

Eugene Aikins: Experienced software engineer adept at bringing forth expertise in design, installation, testing, and maintenance of software systems. Equipped with a diverse and promising skill-set, proficient in various platforms, languages, and embedded systems. Experienced in back-end development and with the latest cutting-edge development tools and procedures. Able to effectively self-manage during independent projects, as well as collaborate as part of a productive team.

Role: Back-end Development.

Telegram: @epaikins

Email: eugenepooooaikinsdev@gmail.com

[AUDITABILITY]

Through our website, which will be completely built by the end of week 2 post-funding, progress reports on our metrics will be announced to enable transparent auditing by the community. Our honest internal auditor (Christopher Aikins) would also audit carefully and report information on how funds were used by the team with regards to the project execution at the end of every month.

Key Metrics

• A functioning website, hosted and accessible to all.
• The number of institutions that attend our workshop.
• The number of institutions that have signed up to the Cardano Recycling Dapp platform.
• The number of wallets created (Nami / Yoroi / CC-Vault / Daedalus) for institutions.
• The volume of transactions recorded on the Cardano test-net.
• The volume of recyclable plastic waste that ends up in recycling hubs.
• The number of segregation bins distributed to institutions.
• The Cardano Recycling Dapp platform is up and running for the pilot program.
• The number of institutions delegating their tokens to stake pools (optional to institutions).
• The number of institutions participating in the catalyst governance process through voting (optional to institutions).

• A functional Cardano Recycling Dapp that is able to connect recyclable plastic waste generated by institutions directly to recycling hubs is definitely what defines success for this project. 
• Another definition of success would be to see institutions become shareholders of the Cardano community by delegating earned tokens (incentives) to stake pools of their choice and further contributing to the catalyst governance process through voting. (Optional to institutions)

At the end of 3 months

• At least 10 institutions (government and private) in Kumasi-Ghana have accepted and signed on to the Cardano Recycling Dapp through our workshop.
• A good volume of transactions were recorded on the Cardano test-net.
• Institutions utilize the platform to raise extra revenue. They choose to either delegate or liquidate their earnings, even though we advise delegation to stake pools.

This is a new proposal, however, the first submission was in Fund 7. It was approved but the funding opportunity was missed as our requested budget was $14,630 more than the remaining funds ($73,515) when it was our turn in the row.

Therefore, we’ve decided to break it down into 2 phases to ensure we get funding. We’re only submitting phase 1 of it in Fund 8, and we’ll probably come back to Catalyst in subsequent iterations for funds to complete phase 2 of it too.

SDG Rating

• Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms.
• Goal 12: Get businesses and consumers to reduce and recycle waste.
• Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
• Goal 14: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.