Bhopal homemaker exchanges household waste for food and essentials
The Kachra Cafe initiative has sent more than 45 tonnes of recyclable material for processing in eight months.
Bhopal resident Anjita Sabhlok has launched Kachra Cafe, an initiative where people can trade recyclable household items for food, drinks, and daily necessities. According to a report by The Times of India, the project has successfully diverted more than 45 tonnes of waste to recycling centres within eight months of starting.
Sabhlok, who runs the NGO Mannat, established the programme in partnership with the Bhopal Municipal Corporation. The model aims to incentivise residents to separate their recyclables at home rather than disposing of everything as mixed garbage.
Under the system, participants bring items such as old newspapers, plastic, cardboard, and electronic waste to collection centres. The materials are weighed and converted into credits, referred to as Kachra Coins or Kachra Currency, which can be redeemed for products at participating outlets.
The exchange rates vary by material. For example, paper is valued at Rs 15 per kg, soft plastic at Rs 20 per kg, and electronic waste at Rs 50 per kg. Other rates include Rs 90 per kg for beverage cans and Rs 600 per kg for copper.
Sabhlok stated that while she had been working on environmental awareness for years, she wanted to provide a practical reason for people to change their habits. She expressed a desire for other cities to adopt similar models to make responsible waste disposal a routine part of community life.