Blockchain’s Solution to the 2 Billion Tons Waste Management Problem

Key Takeaways

• Emerging technologies like blockchain and AI present promising solutions to the global waste crisis.
• Blockchain can enhance transparency and traceability in recycling processes, ensuring fair compensation for waste collectors.
• Innovative startups are making significant strides in waste management, using technology and creative solutions to tackle challenges in regions with inadequate infrastructure and funding.

Why have we come to gloss over what we need the most, such as waste management providers, individuals, and facilities?

Do you tip the Binmen at Christmas time? This is a childhood memory that is so clear and has always reminded me of who really does the important year-round job of cleaning up after us. In Ireland, as in most parts of the world, the waste collectors are seen as key parts of any functioning society. However, looking beyond the collection, what happens to the waste after it is picked up is where the cracks start to appear. 

Do you ever stop to consider where your waste ends up, and who takes the time to sift through the world’s waste and organize it into more environmentally friendly piles?

After reading a sobering article about the plight of waste collectors in Albania , I reflected on why this critical series is being mismanaged. It was time to speak to some of the leaders in blockchain who can help address this ongoing battle. 

The global waste crisis is out of control, with over 2 billion tons of waste produced annually. Often the management of this waste in developing countries is left up to marginalized workers operating in legal gray areas. Despite their recycling efforts they often face discrimination and work in horrid conditions. 

However, emerging technologies like blockchain and AI offer promising solutions to these problems, potentially transforming waste management systems worldwide.

Challenges to Sustainable Waste Management

Two of the obstacles to making waste management more sustainable today are the lack of transparency and funding. Transparency is crucial because it ensures that the activities involved in plastic waste recovery and recycling are fully disclosed and verifiable. Unfortunately, without incentives, many companies are reluctant to share this data openly. 

According to Andre Vanyi-Robin, CEO of Plastiks, verifiable tracking of plastic waste recovery, and public disclosure of this data, are essential for providing transparency. “This data not only helps in regulatory compliance but also serves as a powerful tool for marketing and communication, aligning with circular economy initiatives vital for the planet’s survival.”

Moreover, this data can be instrumental in securing funding, particularly in developing countries where waste management infrastructure is often lacking. 

“By buying and selling data on plastic waste recovery, funding can be generated for infrastructure development in regions severely impacted by plastic pollution. This approach creates a measurable and positive environmental impact on a global scale, addressing one of the most pressing challenges in sustainable waste management,” continues Vanyi-Robin.

Transparency and Fair Compensation in the Recycling Process

By recording every step of the recycling process, from collection to processing, blockchain can ensure transparency and traceability. Morpheus Network are tackling the issue from the supply side by utilizing advanced technologies to better track the end products and understand where there is room to reduce waste. This will help to break irresponsible patterns of consumption and further highlight the role of waste collectors as valued members of the supply chain. 

“In grocery supply chains, transparency isn’t just a virtue—it’s a necessity. By leveraging middleware to integrate real-time data across the supply chain, retailers can transform waste management, turning a 16 billion-pound problem into an opportunity for sustainability and profitability,” says Dan Weinberger, Co-Founder of Morpheus Network. 

“Transparent supply chain operations, powered by middleware, hold the key to reducing the staggering waste in grocery stores. When every perishable item is tracked and managed in real-time, the outcome isn’t just extended shelf life—it’s a more sustainable, responsible approach to feeding the future,” continues Weinberger.

Between both the Plastik Web3 marketplace that allows users to trade plastic credits and the Morpheus Network middleware to track the supply side there are ways to tackle most pressing waste management issues from every angle. 

The Role of Startups 

ReFi Lagos wrote a recent article pinpointing the public health issues facing Nigeria due to improper waste management and ineffective handling of waste. Plastic waste recycling is a 10 billion dollar market in Nigeria. Unfortunately, over 88% of the plastic waste  generated in Nigeria is not recycled. Instead, much of it ends up in water bodies – rivers, lakes, drains, lagoons and the ocean. 

Refi Lagos notes that one of the primary challenges is the inadequate waste management infrastructure. Many cities in Nigeria lack sufficient facilities for proper waste collection, recycling, and disposal, leading to waste being discarded illegally in open spaces, waterways, and streets.

Coupled with this is the issue of insufficient funding. Addressing these challenges involves Investing in modern waste management facilities, Securing adequate funding for waste management systems through government budgets, public-private partnerships and unlocking creativity through innovative and decentralized funding mechanisms such as Gitcoin,” Refi Lagos.

“I hope that other young people will be able to save the environment with their hands too. The more wastepreneurs we have, the cleaner our environment becomes,” says Adejoke Lasisi, Founder of Planet 3R.

In regions like Nigeria startups are making strides in tackling pollution. For example, Planet 3R converts textile and plastic waste into eco-friendly products, while Wecyclers incentivize low-income communities to recycle waste in exchange for essential goods and services. These initiatives demonstrate how creativity and technology can address waste management challenges even in the most difficult environments.

A Vision for the Future of Waste

Let’s consider a future where waste pickers are equipped with smartphones connected to a recycling platform. Each time they collect waste, their contributions are recorded on the blockchain, and they receive instant payments through digital wallets. Instead of marginalizing trash pickers, governments, and private companies can collaborate to create an inclusive waste management system that rewards the contributions of informal recyclers. 

A simple way to start showing our appreciation for those at the frontline of this important activity in our everyday lives is to allow waste collectors to create value from their willingness to clean up after us and to ensure that they are compensated. 

I would also like to give the binman a digital tip at Christmas time if any of the readers have a solution to offer up.