Looking to declutter but unsure how to get rid of your excess items? A young team from Begur has created an app called Ecocrew, which helps you dispose of unwanted articles while rewarding you with cash. The app was launched in 2023 by Mohammed Qhizer Jameel and his friend Muqtadir Ahmed, after they discovered the city’s struggle with managing dry recyclables while visiting landfills. “We decided to create the app to tackle this issue,” says Jameel.
Since its launch, Ecocrew has successfully diverted around 9.12 lakh kg of recyclables from landfills. The app picks up a wide variety of items including clothes, shoes, mattresses, metal utensils, and electronics like refrigerators, washing machines, and even earphones. If the electronics are functional, customers are encouraged to sell them on OLX, but if they prefer, Ecocrew handles recycling and reusing.
Items that are reusable are sent to their thrift store in Begur, while others are recycled. Currently covering 50% of Bengaluru, including areas like Whitefield, Koramangala, and Electronics City, the team plans to expand with additional warehouses to serve more neighborhoods.
To use the app, customers simply upload pictures of the items they wish to dispose of, select a convenient pickup time, and get paid via UPI along with Eco coins. These coins can be redeemed for eco-friendly products like bamboo combs and toothbrushes. Customers can also choose to donate the cash to one of four listed NGOs.
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