The program is developed around students – school and college – and them taking responsibility for the multi-laminated packaging waste generated by them and their family. If every family was responsibly disposing its own waste then the work of the city authorities would become much easier. (What is multi-laminated packaging?)
Just like a regular Bank, Safai Bank has account holders, a physical space for a branch and staff. Below is an explanation of many aspects of the Bank functioning. We are still in beta stage and continuously evolving. If you feel something is not correct or needs improvement kindly highlight.
Account Holders
Students who wish to be responsible towards their waste will open an account with a Branch and once in a week visit the branch and deposit their waste. (Open an account now)
Branches
Branches are where account holder come to deposit their waste.
Since students are the focus the branches are educational institutions. Students will deposit waste only in their own Branch and not another one. (Register your Educational Institute as a Branch)
Indicative functioning of Branches
The Educational Institutes which agree to open branches will function once in a week only on a designated day and hours. The institute will provide a small space consisting of two tables and a few chairs to the Branch staff to sit and accept the deposits from the account holders. They could need an electricity connection for their devices and also a space protected from the weather elements. The institutes will also provide a storage space for storing the collected waste which will be cleared once in a month.
The waste stored at the Branches is collected once in a month and transported to the City Depot. At the City Depot waste from a number of Branches is stored. At the City Depot the waste will get sorted and baled and ready for final disposal either in road making or a cement kiln.
The complete system is run on an IT backend where all the deposits by the Account Holders are recorded accurately and available to the account holders for viewing in an e-passbook online. The Branch Managers have logins which allows them to access the system and make deposits.
Branch Managers
Just like Account Holders, Branch Managers are integral to ensure that the system works smoothly. Branch Managers are individuals who take pride to volunteer in supporting the functioning of a particular branch. Ideally this should be an institute or location which they are already are an integral part of. Branch Managers could do either or all of these roles
1) Accept the waste and login the details into the system for each account holder
2) Train other volunteers to service the account holders
3) Ensure that the collected waste is stored securely within the Branch premises.
4) Coordinate with City Coordinators to ensure that the waste is collected once in a month
5) Keep a monthly display of the waste collected at the Branch to make the account holders appreciate what they have managed to divert from the dumping grounds.
6) Any other task as required.
City Managers
City Managers will oversee the functioning of various branches in their City. This is a voluntary role currently and those who volunteer can choose how much time and effort they may like to contribute. There can be multiple City Managers and it is expected that they contribute within themselves.
Rewards and Appreciation
Rewards and appreciation are a key feature of the system and linked to the amount of waste collected at the individual, branch and city level. The best performers in each category will be provided with attractive certificates and other rewards we will tie up with sponsors.
The Bank is an effective mechanism for implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility. External Producer Responsibility is a principle which says that any manufacturer of a product which generates any form of waste is also responsible for the disposal of the waste. Thus mobile phone and other gadget manufactures are held responsible for the e-waste generated at the end of the product. Similarly for food waste. Nowadays a large amount of snacks articles come in a form of packaging called multi-laminated packaging.
Hello,
I am part of NGO which also works with Children between 10-15years old, one of our Domain is Waste. And we have collected and sevregated waste. We were looking for MLP recycling, can you help us by any way?
Hello, yes we have emailed you more queries and will be happy to partner.
Hi,
I am a housewife. I would like to join Safai bank… Can u plss help me with how do I go ahead
Sir…
A thousand thanks to you for this intiative.
I am a founder member of an NGO Green Saviours @ Belgaum.Along with planting trees we are also into Environment conservation.
Personally I do follow a lot of
ecofriendly practices..to the extent that I have stopped eating from packages that are not recyclable.
Would be interested in knowing the disposal mechanism of the MLP.
We are based at Belgaum.
A small suggestion.
If you are able to put the working in a simple flowchart..it will help in understanding with lot of people.
Give a thought to it..
Great work…Team Safai Bank..
is it only in Mumbai or other cities too, why restrict to school only may be others too may be interested, in collecting and sending.
I think it a wonderful initiative and looking forward to be a part of it. We represent a school in Ahmedabad and are working with other agencies and platforms on sustainability of resources and waste management projects. We believe these ventures are crucial in bringing about an attitudinal change and a sense of responsibility in us and our students.
I have a suggestion. We are working with NEPRA to encourage waste segregation, where students bring dry waste from home and NEPRA collects it from our school. They give some monetary consideration for the waste collected which our students use to fund the education of some underprivileged child.
This gives a beautiful feeling of social awareness along with civic responsibilities.