‘Tinder’ platform for waste
Humans have been using dating apps and platforms for a number of years now in search for ‘a match’ that would make their life a whole. What if our waste could ‘date’ too? The new Brussels-based circular economy digital platform ‘Waste-Match Belgium’ has an answer.
Circular economy is considered as one of the key priorities in the race against the climate change clock. The key principles of circular economy are: redesign, reduce, reuse, repair, renovate, recycle and recover. The City of Brussels has made strong commitments in becoming a CO2 neutral city by 2050, putting forward a number of processes to re-think its model, as well as policies and programmes that would support the transition. Innovative and circular solutions which would challenge the current ways of waste management are urgently needed to address the most pressing challenge of our time and support our City in reaching its sustainability objectives. Digital space offers a potential solution.
Prolonging the life of our waste would drastically reduce the amount of garbage that is incinerated right now. Once a product is used and served its initial purpose, we usually throw it away without realising that it can be reused, repurposed or revalorised. After all, one man’s trash is another one’s treasure. But how can we find what we need?
WasteMatch Belgium (WMB) is a new digital platform that will help our waste to find a new love. The idea is simple: the platform creates ‘a match’ between the owners of specific waste with local resource seekers. In other words, it facilitates the exchange of waste that has a potential for further valorization between Belgian companies. WMB has been developed with the support of the Smart City of the City of Brussels and the marketplace is hosted by Merciki, which also allows the current (and future) members to use their ‘Mercis’ for the exchanges.
The priority of the WasteMatch Belgium platform is to exchange organic waste and certain toxic waste for which there are no established channels (i.e. cigarette butts, coffee grounds). The overall ambition is to contribute to the creation of new synergies and stimulate local circular economic activities.
Pictures: © Unsplash : Charlotte Coneybeer, Karbuz Horbz
