Please describe your proposed solution.
Background
Electronic waste (e-waste) is becoming a global problem due to the increasing number of electronic devices being produced and disposed of each year. The improper disposal of electronic waste (e-waste) is a growing global concern, leading to environmental pollution and health hazards, affecting climate change. In Ghana, a large amount of e-waste is generated, with only a fraction being properly processed by formal e-waste recyclers. The absence of certified e-waste collectors, coupled with the lack of accessible and affordable repair services, contribute to the indiscriminate dumping of devices and the increase in e-waste levels. According to a study conducted by Switch Africa, “an estimated 171,000 tons of e-waste was generated in 2011 in Ghana, with a mere 0.2% processed by formal e-waste recyclers. The remaining 99.98% was handled by an informal sector consisting of a widespread network of unlicensed collectors, intermediaries, scrap dealers and dismantlers specializing in the manual disassembly and trading of post-consumer electronics. A lack of proper environmental, health and safety safeguards among these actors’ results in massive environmental pollution and negatively affects the physical well-being of thousands of people”. The growing problem of e-waste could be addressed by making it easier for people to recycle or repair their electronic devices. This could be accomplished by establishment of a network of licensed and certified e-waste collectors, readily accessible for the purpose of gathering e-waste and facilitating its recycling and by providing more accessible repair services. Additionally, the availability of convenient repair services would provide device users with an alternative option to have their electronic devices fixed instead of resorting to indiscriminate dumping when they encounter issues. Such measures would effectively prolong the lifespan of electronic devices and contribute to reducing their environmental impact. By giving people more options on how to dispose of their old electronics, we can help to reduce the amount of e-waste that ends up in landfills and incinerators. Therefore, to tackle this issue, there is the need to develop a decentralized application (DApp) that connects device users with repair experts and e-waste collectors, incentivizing proper device repair, disposal, and recycling.
The proposed Decentralized Application aims to provide a platform where device users can easily access the services of e-waste collectors and repair experts, reducing the need to prematurely dispose of their devices. By this project our team seeks not only to address an environmental problem, which contribute to climate change but also create a conducive working environment for business transaction in the informal sector that will also facilitate the adoption and integration of the cardano dapp infrastructure in the business operation of entrepreneurs. This project is in line with the specifications outlined in the product and integration challenge setting. According to the criteria of the product and integration challenge, proposals that qualify under the category must focus on;
• Climate Change - Solutions that help to solve environmental issues
• Hardware - Hardware wallets, IoT devices connected to Cardano, Local ATMs for interacting with the blockchain, others…
• Physical products - Tokenised housing as a Cardano native asset, Fractionalised physical asset ownership, others…
• Marketplaces
• Mediation
• Many others!
In light of the framework of the objective of the challenge setting, we’re convinced that the end goal of our project makes it suitable for the product and integration challenge. Aside the project serving as a marketplace for transaction, the central theme of proposal focused on a solution that helps solve an environmental problem. The main objectives of this project are twofold:
- Tackle the issue of E-waste in Ghana
- Establish a platform where experts and device users can come together to engage in business transaction
THE DECENTRALIZED APPLICATION
The proposed DApp would be built on the Cardano blockchain and would use smart contracts to automate the repair collection and recycling of electronic devices. The DApp platform will connect device users with repair specialist and e-waste collectors, incentivizing them to repair and properly dispose of their devices. The DApp would be divided into two main components: the Collection Component and Repair Component.
How does it work?
The DApp platform will provide unique identification for tech repair experts and e-waste collectors. The unique identification system will be develop using AtalaPRISM, which will assign a digital ID to each repair experts and e-waste collectors. This ID serves as a virtual "business card" and makes it simple for individuals with broken devices to find the right repair specialist or e-waste collector for their needs. In Ghana the difficulty in getting certified e-waste collectors and quality repair services due to proximity and cost of transport compel device owners to prematurely dispose of their devices into the environment, increasing the level of E-waste. However, by this initiative, we seek to discourage this practice by providing damaged devices a new life through the services of repair experts so as to prevent device owners from resorting to dumping old devices into the environment for new devices. Ultimately, we anticipate that this initiative will help reduce e-waste in various community.
COLLECTION COMPONENT
The collection Component would incentivize repair specialist to properly dispose of devices that cannot be refurbished. In Ghana, repair shops are often the hub of technological devices cannot be refurbished or repaired. These devices end up either at recycling centers or dumped into the environment indiscriminately. Often, these devices end up in the environment which poses health problems when they’re mostly burnt–polluting the atmosphere. The underlyning reason for the indiscriminate disposal into the environment is the difficult in locating certified e-waste collectors, whose responsibility is to collect and convey e-waste to recycling firms. This leaves repair specialist the only option of dumping damaged electronic devices (devices beyond repair) into the environment indiscriminately. In light of this, this phase of the project focuses on connecting the repair specialist to e-waste collectors via the development of a decentralized application. Linking devices owners to e-waste collectors will ease e-waste collections. The purpose is to curb the indiscriminate dumping of electronic devices into the environment by device users and repair shops. Ideally, by easy identification and access to e-waste collectors, we’re convinced that the devices owners and repair shops will properly dispose of their e-waste. With the introduction of the DApp platform, the idea is to allow both parties (repair specialist and e-waste collectors) to negotiate the price for the collection services. Once a price has been agreed upon, a smart contract would be created to automate the transaction. Under this phase, the platform will be designed to deploy smart contracts to verify the condition of e-waste device and assign a value to it. The end goal is to ensure that by this initiative e-waste collectors are properly incentivized for their services. The device owners would be paid in cryptocurrency that could be used to purchase goods and services within the DApp ecosystem. The DApp platform will not only connect devices owners and repair shops to e-waste collectors, and will also link device users to repair experts for their services.
REPAIR COMPONENT
In Africa, slightly used devices are high among the population and the situation is not different in Ghana. Both rural and urban population with low income rely on electronic devices such as phones, laptops, and tablets to interact on the internet and do their daily activities. These tech devices often require repair services when they breakdown. However, the absence of tech repair specialist (tech repair specialist are entrepreneurs in the informal market of Ghana whose specialties include repairing broken devices such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, and tech devices) often forces device users to dump their devices indiscriminately into the environment.
Meanwhile, aside the central business district of Ghana and a few parts of the country, tech repair experts are often difficult to locate in some parts of the country. At the moment, a few repair experts are mostly scattered across the country, with majority centered within the business district, making accessibility and affordability of their services difficult. Therefore, some communities face a challenge accessing the services of these repairmen. This often leaves them with the only option of dumping them into the environment indiscriminately.
Under the Repair component of this project, the DApp platform which will be developed in this project using Plutus will also connect tech repair specialist directly with device users so as to enable the interaction between tech repair specialist and device users through smart contract. The smart contract would have the main function to show proof of fault (information about broken devices); transparent pricing, and distribution of incentives. The on-chain solution aims at providing a cost-effective and quality P2P ecosystem by identifying repair experts and connecting them to device users.
These talented entrepreneurs specialize in fixing devices like smartphones, laptops, and tablets. Our goal is to make it easier for people with broken devices to connect with these repairmen and get their devices fixed quickly.
MAJOR RISK
The main challenge the project is likely to face is the difficulty in enrolling repair specialist unto the Dapp platform. In that regard, we would provide a short video description on how to enroll unto the platform and also provide an incentive program which will be designed to reward tech repair specialist a small amount of Cardano for enrolling on the Dapp platform. In this way, we would also introduce cardano to the repair specialist community.
Conclusion
The proposed DApp would provide a decentralized solution to the problem of e-waste by incentivizing the proper disposal, refurbishment, and recycling of electronic devices. The use of smart contracts would automate the process, making it more efficient and reducing the risk of fraud. The DApp would also provide device owners with a monetary reward for their devices, which would encourage them to properly dispose of their devices and reduce e-waste. The use of cryptocurrency within the DApp ecosystem would create a self-sustaining economy that would benefit all participants.
How does your proposed solution address the challenge and what benefits will this bring to the Cardano ecosystem?
HOW THE PROJECT ADDRESS THE CHALLENGE
In reference to the criteria of the product and integration challenge, proposals that qualify under the category must focus on;
• Climate Change - Solutions that help to solve environmental issues
• Hardware - Hardware wallets, IoT devices connected to Cardano, Local ATMs for interacting with the blockchain, others…
• Physical products - Tokenised housing as a Cardano native asset, Fractionalised physical asset ownership, others…
• Marketplaces
• Mediation
• Many others!
In light of the framework of the objective of the challenge setting, our project intends to develop a platform where electronic device users can easily access the services of e-waste collectors and repair experts, reducing the need to prematurely dispose of their devices indiscriminately into the environment. We’re convinced that the end goal of our project makes it suitable for the product and integration challenge. Admittedly, the central theme of this project seeks to address an environmental problem. This is in alignment with the challenge objective. By this project, our team
aims not only to address an environmental problem, which contribute to climate change but also create a conducive working environment for business transaction in the informal sector that will also facilitate the adoption and integration of the cardano dapp infrastructure in the business operation of entrepreneurs. Aside the project serving as a marketplace for transaction, the ultimate solution of the of proposal focused on a solution that helps solve an environmental problem. The main objectives of this project are twofold:
- Tackle the issue of E-waste in Ghan
- Establish a platform where experts and device users can come together to engage in business transaction.
APPROACH
Electronic waste (e-waste) is becoming a global problem due to the increasing number of electronic devices being produced and disposed of each year. The improper disposal of electronic waste (e-waste) is a growing global concern, leading to environmental pollution and health hazards, affecting climate change. In Ghana, a large amount of e-waste is generated, with only a fraction being properly processed by formal e-waste recyclers. The absence of certified e-waste collectors, coupled with the lack of accessible and affordable repair services, contribute to the indiscriminate dumping of devices and the increase in e-waste levels. According to a study conducted by Switch Africa, “an estimated 171,000 tons of e-waste was generated in 2011 in Ghana, with a mere 0.2% processed by formal e-waste recyclers. The remaining 99.98% was handled by an informal sector consisting of a widespread network of unlicensed collectors, intermediaries, scrap dealers and dismantlers specializing in the manual disassembly and trading of post-consumer electronics. A lack of proper environmental, health and safety safeguards among these actors’ results in massive environmental pollution and negatively affects the physical well-being of thousands of people”. The growing problem of e-waste could be addressed by making it easier for people to recycle or repair their electronic devices. This could be accomplished by establishment of a network of licensed and certified e-waste collectors, readily accessible for the purpose of gathering e-waste and facilitating its recycling and by providing more accessible repair services. Additionally, the availability of convenient repair services would provide device users with an alternative option to have their electronic devices fixed instead of resorting to indiscriminate dumping when they encounter issues. Such measures would effectively prolong the lifespan of electronic devices and contribute to reducing their environmental impact. By giving people more options on how to dispose of their old electronics, we can help to reduce the amount of e-waste that ends up in landfills and incinerators. Therefore, to tackle this issue, there is the need to develop a decentralized application (DApp) that connects device users with repair experts and e-waste collectors, incentivizing proper device repair, disposal, and recycling.
The proposed DApp would be built on the Cardano blockchain and would use smart contracts to automate the repair collection and recycling of electronic devices. The DApp platform will connect device users with repair specialist and e-waste collectors, incentivizing them to repair and properly dispose of their devices.
The proposed Decentralized Application aims to provide a platform where device users can easily access the services of e-waste collectors and repair experts, reducing the need to prematurely dispose of their devices. By this project our team seeks not only to address an environmental problem, which contribute to climate change but also create a conducive working environment for business transaction in the informal sector that will also facilitate the adoption and integration of the cardano dapp infrastructure in the business operation of entrepreneurs.
<u>KEY BENEFITS/ IMPACT OF THE PROJECT TO THE CARDANO ECOSYSTEM</u>
This project is in line with the specifications outlined in the product and integration challenge setting. According to the criteria of the product and integration challenge, proposals that qualify under the category must focus on;
• Climate Change - Solutions that help to solve environmental issues
• Hardware - Hardware wallets, IoT devices connected to Cardano, Local ATMs for interacting with the blockchain, others…
• Physical products - Tokenised housing as a Cardano native asset, Fractionalised physical asset ownership, others…
• Marketplaces
• Mediation
• Many others!
In light of the framework of the objective of the challenge setting, we’re convinced that the end goal of our project makes it suitable for the product and integration challenge. Aside the project serving as a marketplace for transaction, the central theme of proposal focused on a solution that helps solve an environmental problem. In line with this, the project intends to make the following impact to the cardano ecosystem in the short to long term;
Promotes the adoption of the Cardano DApp infrastructure
The project will help to develop the Cardano ecosystem by providing a new use case for the blockchain. This will make Cardano more attractive to developers and businesses, which will lead to further growth and adoption of the blockchain. Taking into account the myriad of online businesses in Ghana with enough piece of infrastructure for the integration of DApp into their online product and services, the realization of this project will not only create more awareness but would also facilitate the adoption process of the cardano DApp infrastructure in Ghana. Our aim is that by this initiative we'll fast track the transition of business unto the Cardano blockchain in Africa by being a starting point. The DApp platform will serve as a marketplace where repair specialists, e-waste collectors, and device users can engage in business transactions, providing a conducive business environment. It provides a convenient and efficient way for device users to access repair services and proper disposal options. By promoting the adoption and integration of the Cardano DApp infrastructure, the project fosters a conducive working environment for entrepreneurs in the informal sector, enhancing their productivity and business growth.
Position Cardano as a leading force in Promoting Sustainability and Reducing E-waste
we aim to position Cardano as a leading force in promoting sustainability and reducing e-waste. Together, we can create a greener future, protect the environment, and contribute to the global fight against climate change within the Cardano ecosystem. Our primary objective is to address the pressing issue of e-waste in Ghana while simultaneously positioning the Cardano ecosystem as a champion for environmental sustainability.By offering a readily available e-waste collectors to devices users, and also offering affordable and convenient repair services, we provide an alternative that reduces the accumulation of e-waste in the environment. This approach aligns with Cardano's commitment to sustainable development and establishes the ecosystem as a frontrunner in the fight against climate change. By actively promoting the message of environmental sustainability, our platform positions Cardano as an environmentally friendly ecosystem. We emphasize the importance of responsible consumption and the positive impact of reducing e-waste. Through educational campaigns, partnerships with environmental organizations, and community engagement, we foster a collective commitment to preserving the planet and raise awareness of Cardano's contribution to the cause.
Decentralized Business Transactions
Through the implementation of our web-based platform, we envision a decentralized marketplace for repair services. This platform will leverage Cardano's blockchain technology to ensure secure and transparent business transactions. By creating a trustworthy environment, we enable repair specialists to engage in seamless transactions, further strengthening the credibility of the Cardano ecosystem.
Government and Blockchain Initiatives
Successfully implementing our platform has the potential to position Cardano as a central focus for government-led blockchain initiatives. By showcasing the benefits of decentralized technology and its practical applications, we can contribute to the adoption and integration of Cardano in various governmental sectors. This recognition would solidify Cardano's position as a leading blockchain solution, driving further growth and development within the ecosystem.
Streamlined Accessibility
We aim to facilitate easy access to repair specialists for portable device owners. By leveraging the power of Cardano's decentralized infrastructure, we will develop a user-friendly web-based platform that connects device owners with skilled repair professionals. This innovative solution eliminates the need for extensive transportation searches and minimizes additional costs associated with finding reliable tech repair services. By offering convenience and accessibility, we can enhance the overall user experience and contribute to the growth of the Cardano ecosystem.
Boosting Tech Repairers' Income
Our Dapp platform not only benefits device owners but also empowers tech repair specialists. By providing easy access to their target market, repair professionals can expand their customer base and increase their income levels. The platform serves as a valuable marketing channel, allowing tech repairers to showcase their expertise and services to a wider audience. This enhanced visibility can significantly impact their revenue generation, contributing to their professional growth and financial stability.
How do you intend to measure the success of your project?
Benefit of the project to the cardano ecosystem
Overall, the project is a win-win for the Cardano ecosystem. It will have positive environmental and economic benefits, and it will help to increase the adoption of the Cardano blockchain. Here are some specific benefit to the Cardano ecosystem:
Promotes the adoption of the Cardano DApp infrastructure
The project will help to develop the Cardano ecosystem by providing a new use case for the blockchain. This will make Cardano more attractive to developers and businesses, which will lead to further growth and adoption of the blockchain. Taking into account the myriad of online businesses in Ghana with enough piece of infrastructure for the integration of DApp into their online product and services, the realization of this project will not only create more awareness but would also facilitate the adoption process of the cardano DApp infrastructure in Ghana. Our aim is that by this initiative we'll fast track the transition of business unto the Cardano blockchain in Africa by being a starting point. The DApp platform will serve as a marketplace where repair specialists, e-waste collectors, and device users can engage in business transactions, providing a conducive business environment. It provides a convenient and efficient way for device users to access repair services and proper disposal options. By promoting the adoption and integration of the Cardano DApp infrastructure, the project fosters a conducive working environment for entrepreneurs in the informal sector, enhancing their productivity and business growth.
Position Cardano as a leading force in Promoting Sustainability and Reducing E-waste
we aim to position Cardano as a leading force in promoting sustainability and reducing e-waste. Together, we can create a greener future, protect the environment, and contribute to the global fight against climate change within the Cardano ecosystem. Our primary objective is to address the pressing issue of e-waste in Ghana while simultaneously positioning the Cardano ecosystem as a champion for environmental sustainability.By offering a readily available e-waste collectors to devices users, and also offering affordable and convenient repair services, we provide an alternative that reduces the accumulation of e-waste in the environment. This approach aligns with Cardano's commitment to sustainable development and establishes the ecosystem as a frontrunner in the fight against climate change. By actively promoting the message of environmental sustainability, our platform positions Cardano as an environmentally friendly ecosystem. We emphasize the importance of responsible consumption and the positive impact of reducing e-waste. Through educational campaigns, partnerships with environmental organizations, and community engagement, we foster a collective commitment to preserving the planet and raise awareness of Cardano's contribution to the cause.
Decentralized Business Transactions
Through the implementation of our web-based platform, we envision a decentralized marketplace for repair services. This platform will leverage Cardano's blockchain technology to ensure secure and transparent business transactions. By creating a trustworthy environment, we enable repair specialists to engage in seamless transactions, further strengthening the credibility of the Cardano ecosystem.
Government and Blockchain Initiatives
Successfully implementing our platform has the potential to position Cardano as a central focus for government-led blockchain initiatives. By showcasing the benefits of decentralized technology and its practical applications, we can contribute to the adoption and integration of Cardano in various governmental sectors. This recognition would solidify Cardano's position as a leading blockchain solution, driving further growth and development within the ecosystem.
Streamlined Accessibility
We aim to facilitate easy access to repair specialists for portable device owners. By leveraging the power of Cardano's decentralized infrastructure, we will develop a user-friendly web-based platform that connects device owners with skilled repair professionals. This innovative solution eliminates the need for extensive transportation searches and minimizes additional costs associated with finding reliable tech repair services. By offering convenience and accessibility, we can enhance the overall user experience and contribute to the growth of the Cardano ecosystem.
Boosting Tech Repairers' Income
Our Dapp platform not only benefits device owners but also empowers tech repair specialists. By providing easy access to their target market, repair professionals can expand their customer base and increase their income levels. The platform serves as a valuable marketing channel, allowing tech repairers to showcase their expertise and services to a wider audience. This enhanced visibility can significantly impact their revenue generation, contributing to their professional growth and financial stability.
Short to long-term impact
In both the short and long term, the project's innovation is expected to have a positive impact on Cardano's productivity and growth. In the short term, the DApp platform can quickly address the pressing issue of e-waste in Ghana, promoting sustainable practices and raising awareness about the environmental impact of improper disposal. This can lead to immediate improvements in the cleanliness and health of the affected communities.
In the long term, the project's integration with the Cardano ecosystem can foster the growth of a robust marketplace for repair services and e-waste collection, not only in Ghana but potentially in other regions as well. The increased adoption of Cardano's blockchain technology and the utilization of smart contracts can create new opportunities for entrepreneurs and businesses, contributing to economic development and job creation.
How to measure the success of the Goals
The success of this project will be measured in two fold; both long and short term.
Short term measurement
The project's success hinges on some key indicators with specific target for each indicator. After the first 3 month of rolling out the project, an assessment would be conducted to adjust these targets under each indicator based on the assessment report. The assessment report would include a SWOT analysis on data gathered from our platform. And at the end of a successful implementation of this project, we’ll measure the success of this event by;
• The number of users of the platform
• The number of repair experts and e-waste collectors onboarded on the platform
• The volumes of transaction on the platform.
• The number of feed-back from users and repairmen.
The DApp platform for this project would be designed to track the above indicators. And based on the above key performance indicators, we anticipate that, a successful implementation of the project will help achieve the following milestones;
Key Metrics
• 100 new users of the platform.
• 50 repair specialists on boarded
• 50 transactions
• 50 or more feedback from both device owners and repairmen.
Long term measurement
Measuring the success of the proposed project can be done through various indicators and metrics. Here are some ways to measure the success of the project's benefits:
Environmental Impact:
- Quantify the reduction in e-waste volume: Measure the decrease in the amount of e-waste improperly disposed of or dumped, comparing it to previous data.
- Assess pollution reduction: Evaluate the improvement in environmental pollution indicators, such as air and water quality, associated with proper e-waste disposal and recycling.
- Monitor health outcomes: Track health statistics and assess the impact of reduced e-waste pollution on the well-being of communities.
Sustainable Business Transaction:
- Adoption and usage statistics: Measure the number of repair specialists, e-waste collectors, and device users actively participating in the DApp platform, indicating the adoption and utilization of the marketplace.
- Transaction volume: Track the number and value of transactions conducted through the DApp platform to assess its growth and contribution to the informal sector's business activities.
- Feedback and user satisfaction: Collect feedback from users, including repair specialists, e-waste collectors, and device users, to gauge their satisfaction with the platform and its impact on their businesses.
Increased Accessibility and Affordability:
- Geographical coverage: Assess the expansion of the platform's reach to previously underserved areas, measuring the increased accessibility of repair services and e-waste collection options.
- Cost reduction: Analyze the cost savings for device users in accessing repair services and the overall affordability of e-waste collection, comparing it to alternative methods.
Smart Contracts:
- Transaction data and smart contract usage: Monitor the number of transactions facilitated by smart contracts, tracking the proper disposal of e-waste and rewards given to device owners.
- Cryptocurrency utilization: Measure the adoption and utilization of the cryptocurrency within the DApp ecosystem, tracking the number of transactions and the value of goods and services exchanged.
Please describe your plans to share the outputs and results of your project?
Output of the results from the project.
Upon meeting our targets as indicated in the project, we expect a collaboration with policies makers on partnership that will foster the fight for a sustainable environmental management of e-waste.
In spreading the project into a timeframes that is more efficient, we intend to segment the project into two phase, taking a six month duration.
Accountability
In ensuring our team’s accountability and transparency to the cardano ecosystem, all the needed documentation from start to finish of the event will be presented to the community including video recordings where necessary. These documentations will be presented, in addition to our monthly report to the catalyst community. The documents will be posted on all catalyst affiliate social media platforms.