Rekosistem

Garbage collectors play a big role in waste processing and ensuring our clean environment. Their scope of work involves collection, segregation, pick-up and treatment processes. However their contribution is not highly valued. In Indonesia (and also globally), Their job is classified as an informal sector that is unsafe with a low income rate. Only 9% of waste get segregated, the rest are mixed up and make the harmful materials contaminate others, creating an unhealthy environment. Their income is also low with only $40-$250 despite their essential role for a clean environment. Rekosistem will change the game, we create a waste management platform (mobile apps) that will elevate the value of garbage collectors. The apps helps the collector to trigger waste segregation from the droppers (households or individual users) using a reward-punishment model and opens access to the waste processors for additional income.

Garbage collector is one of the most essential jobs in the World. They manage more than 2 Billion Tons Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) annually and it is projected to increase by 70% in 2025. Specific to Indonesia, their role is also as important as others. There are around 4 Millions of Garbage Collectors in Indonesia, they are usually classified as informal workers. The condition makes their income is only around $40-$250 per month and it doesn't compensate for the risk of the job. They have to interact with harmful and toxic materials to ensure a clean ecosystem. The problems are they mostly receive mixed-up waste (only 9% segregated) and very limited access to the processor (only 7% well processed). Every step taken during waste processing is increasing their risk to be exposed with diseases.  The condition is even worse, in the unprecedented time of Covid-19 pandemic. The solutions are needed to ensure garbage collectors get a safe working environment and are more valued. They are our front-liner in maintaining a clean ecosystem.

Our solution is zero waste ecosystem apps that connects upstream and downstream of the waste value chain.

The Go-To-Market Strategy as follows:

1. There are three stakeholders involved: the droppers (household and individual users), the processors (recycling centers, aggregators and  waste treatment companies), and the provider (garbage collectors).

2. For the Upstream. Rekosistem collaborates with the area/building management to implement zero waste management and reward-punishment model. The droppers within the area will be up-charged if they don't segregate the waste and will be less-charged if they segregate the waste.

3. For the Downstream. Rekosistem does penetration to the waste processors. They value the waste because it can be reprocessed back to the valuable materials/ energy.

4. For the Provider. This model will help garbage collectors in managing waste. There’s no more segregation process and manageable waste that is contaminated with hazardous materials. They also get additional income by delivering the valuable waste to the processors.

The Technology used as follows: 

1. Mobile Apps Platform for the droppers, processors and providers.

2. Maps and GPS tracking for each of the user.

3. Data Analytics and Deep Learning to create the most effective and efficient model.

4. (Further Development) Image recognition for waste recognition.

1. The Garbage Collectors

Problem: Their job is always classified high risk low income. They have to segregate the waste by direct interaction with hazardous waste and only get $40-$250 per month.

Solution: They will work with a less harmful environment (without a segregation process) and no direct interaction with contaminated waste. There will be new business opportunities because every waste valued in the processors.

2. The Area and Building Managements.

Problem: There’s a regulation that every area needs to do responsible waste management. The cost of waste dumping activity is also increasing year by year due to inadequate landfill capacity (69% waste is ended up there).

Solution: The Area and Building Management can track the waste management in the area. They can minimize the number of waste dumped in landfill and reduce waste dumping cost

3. The Waste Processors.

Problem: Unsteady supply of waste collection to be reprocessed to recycled materials and renewable energy.

Solution: By connecting them with the garbage collectors, they can easily get the steady supply in the most effective and efficient way.

4. The Droppers.

Problem: It's only 9% of waste get segregated, the main reason is it's complicated.

Solution: Clear guidance and less-charge waste dumping.

The challenge face is how to create good jobs and inclusive entrepreneurship. Recently there is survey held by The Sunday Times Singapore. Garbage Collector is polled as top 3 essential jobs but the first unwanted job to do. It shows that the job is important but less valued due to unsafe environment and low income. Through Rekosistem, we will redefine the waste value chain. We create platform that establish more friendly environment and new business line for the garbage collector in the waste value chain.

Our solution is classified as sustainable platform solution, Our competitors are waste service and sustainable living platform (such as zero waste service, smart waste bin, waste POS Management, etc). In the existing market, sustainability platform is perceived as complicated and high price model. It is complicated because there are a lot of efforts and processes taken. It is high price because users need to pay the additional cost. Our model is different with the existing player in the three metrics:

1. Minimum behaviour changes

Different with existing model, we will not create new operation model. We will tap in to the existing value chain and follow their current behaviour. We provide real benefit for every behaviour changes needed in the stake holder. (The droppers, the collectors and the processors). We engage all the status quo participate in the game.

2. Simple Go-To-Market (GTM) Strategy, Scalability.

Our GTM strategy is very simple. We cover upstream to downstream stakeholder in the waste value chain. We start the penetration from the upstream through area/building managements. Every area/building consists of hundreds-thousands potential users, it will accelerate our penetration.

3. Beneficial and Affordable 

Our model will give benefit of every stakeholder. Instead of take additional charge, we reduce/ maintain their cost (droppers), increase their income (collectors), and steady supply/ business (processors). There is no stakeholder harmed.

The Technology used as follows:

1. Mobile Apps Platform for the droppers, processors and providers.

We create three mobile apps for the stake holders. We use PHP, HTML, Javascript, CSS and React Native to develop our apps. The apps will be connected one to another, link the chain in the waste value chain.

2. Maps and GPS tracking for each of the user.

We connect the apps with the Maps API and activate GPS tracking. It is enabled the Dropper track the collector services, helped the collector find the location of other stakeholders and also eased the processor contacted the collector nearby.

3. Data Analytics and Deep Learning to create the most effective and efficient model.

We develop model by using the Data. We apply vehicle routing model to create the best way of garbage collection. We analyse the stakeholders habit to remind their waste collection order or event valuable waste purchases from the processor. Every data collected will be used to create deep learning model.

4. (Further Development) Image recognition and IoT for waste recognition.

It is hard to classified waste for new users. Even for the garbage collector, there is sometimes human error happened. In the further development we want to implement Image recognition in our apps. It will enable droppers to correctly classified their waste when they confuse to choose type of waste.  We also plan to developed Segregated IoT waste bin that can only be opened when the waste type is correct (further development).

This is the link for the Apps Link of Apps Flow (Bahasa)

Our apps technology works because we previously apply the model in waste bank ecosystem through www.banksampah.id and mysmash application (google play store). It is already perceived as the waste bank platform in Indonesia.

We also got accepted to do the Rekosistem pilot with government in the environmental department Greater Jakarta (Indonesia Capital City). We implemented the model in tho neighbourhoods that consist of around 2,000 thousands household.

Our theory of change is found through collective research-data collection, field work and pilot in the existing waste value chain.

1. Research-Data Collection.

We collected data from the interview the stakeholders, looked around public data and also do discussion meeting with the policy maker (the government).

2.Field Work.

We put skin on the game, we go directly by interacting and working with every stakeholder in waste value chain. Experience is the best lecturer for us to learn what actually happened in the market.

3. Pilot.

Test-Validate-Learn-Improve. We do validation by testing our model with the users. Through that, we will know what worked and didn't worked. Continuous improvement is needed for the robust model solution.

4. Minimum behaviour changes and simplification

The key driver for user to use the tech product is its simplicity. We have to tap in to their behaviour, solve their current pain point and provide reward/incentive for every changes happened.

These are Our Findings, the waste value chain that we want to elevate to the next level.

Waste Value Chain in General (Waste Picker = Garbage Collector)

Waste Value Chain in Residential Area

Waste Value Chain in Public Area 

1. Current Number of People we are serving.

Currently, we are doing pilot in two neighbourhoods in Greater Jakarta. Each neighbourhood consists around 1,000 households, 10 garbage collectors and 2 processors. June is the first month we are doing pilot, the number of users who participated are 50 households, 6 garbage collectors and 2 processors.

2. One Year Plan

We aim to penetrate to 10 neighbourhoods. The target number of users penetrated are 5,000 households, 100 Garbage Collectors and 10 Processors.

3. Five Years Plan

We aim to go big in the next five years with 180 neighborhoods. The target number of users penetrated are 100,000 households, 1,800 Garbage Collectors and 180 Processors.

1. Next Year Plan

We want to change the waste value chain in the 10 neighbourhoods. We aim to improve the quality of life of 100 garbage collectors by doubling their income ($80-500 per month), increase 10 processors supply by two times, and help households 5,000 apply zero waste management.

2. Five Years Plan

We aim to go big in the next five years by improving the quality of We aim to improve the quality of life of 1,800 garbage collectors by tripling their income ($120-750 per month), increase 180 processors supply by 2.5 times, help households 5,000 apply zero waste management and reduce their waste dumping cost by 10%.

1. Financial

We are early stage start-up with very limited funding and limited resources (only five employees full-time, the another five employes are part-time). Currently we are juggling both the cashflow objective activities and product development. Access for the next round of funding will help us to increase the team capacity and also accelerate our product development to hit one year and five years objective.

2. Global Network

Good Jobs and sustainability solution needs support from global network especially from developed country. In fact, Indonesia is still behind compared with the technologies, focuses and expertises in developed country. By having global network it will help us to do share-reapply and develop our solution to be a robust model.

3. Worldwide Technology

We developed our technology in-house based on our knowledge. As we know the technology development is moving fast. We need access and network to worldwide technology to upgrade our product and solve the issue with the most effective and efficient way.

This is one of the reason we apply to Solve. We want to enrich our knowledge and enlarge our network globally. For each of the barrier, hereby the help needed by participating in Solve.

1. Financial

- Grant funding. Each selected solver will have potential for grant, it will be the accelerator for our current situation in developing our product.

-Potential Investor. There is pitching session will be held for the selected solver. By joining the program, it will increase our possibility to meet potential investor in good jobs and sustainability sectors.

2. Global Network

-Solve is the global platform that a lot of top talents gathered. By joining the program we will get exposure to the global network in the area that we are playing in.

3. Worldwide Technology

-Solve is designed for the tech based innovation. We believe it will give provide use with new learning and findings about existed worldwide technology that can be applied in the product and we haven't imagined before.

5 Employees Full-Time, consist of: 1 CEO, 1 COO, 1 Marketing Manager, and 2 Operation Managers.

5 Employees Part-Time, consist of: 1 CDO, 1 CTO, 2 Tech Officers, and 1 Content Manager.

1. Ernest Layman - CEO

Entrepreneur with 4 years of experience in FMCG Business. Former Business Development, Sustainability, Distributor Operation Manager/Leader in FMCG and COO Digital Distribution Start-Up.

2. Joshua Valentino - COO

Industrial Engineer with 3 years of experience in Permaculture and Environmental Activities. Former Plan Engineer in Singkep Farm, Volunteer in Kebun Kumara and Timor Leste.

3. Putra Fajar - CDO

Researcher, Lecturer and Sustainability enthusiast with 4 years experience providing digital solution for Waste Bank. A Master Degree Graduate in Information & Technology and Founder Smash.id.

4. Addin Gama - CTO

Tech Expert with Master Degree in Information & Technology. CTO in Smash.id and Genetik with 6 years experience in web-mobile applications development.

1. Mysmash

We partner with the social organization that provides waste bank digital enabler. The founders of mysmash joined our team as the technological team and our co-founders. Our collaboration is join forces agreement that all the tech-team of mysmash joined our tech team. We believe in collaboration instead of competition.

2. Environmental Department Jakarta

We align our products with the government objective. Our partnership is B2G collaboration that we become their strategic partner to solve the waste management issue in Jakarta.

1. Waste Management Services.

2. Waste Collections Services.

3. Non-Organic Waste Sold to the Recycling Center.

4. Organic Waste Sold to the Waste to Energy.

1-2 Years Ahead

Our current plan is through combination of selling services and raising investment/grants.

1. We charge for every transaction captured through our platform. We apply the discounted rate from 20% charge to 5% charge. We plan to have steady revenue by end of year 2 as per describe below:

2. We plan to raise funding for further development. We will not only stop in developing the Apps. We plan to implement clean working environment through IoT and Waste to energy.

3-5 Years Fund

We plan to be independent in the year 3 ahead as per follow:

As per mentioned previously we want to enrich our knowledge and enlarge our network globally.

1. Funding Opportunity

- Grant funding. Each selected solver will have potential for grant, it will be the accelerator for our current situation in developing our product.

-Potential Investor. There is pitching session will be held for the selected solver. By joining the program, it will increase our possibility to meet potential investor in good jobs and sustainability sectors.

2. Global Network

-Solve is the global platform that a lot of top talents gathered. By joining the program we will get exposure to the global network in the area that we are playing in.

3. Worldwide Technology

-Solve is designed for the tech based innovation. We believe it will give provide use with new learning and findings about existed worldwide technology that can be applied in the product and we haven't imagined before.

4. Become a Solver

- Real contribution is our goal in developing Rekosistem. By joining the Solve we will become the real contributor for the real challenges faced globally.