CHENNAI: Failing to win over public support with altruistic appeals to save Mother Nature, the municipal authorities have decided to go material – coupons, vouchers and freebies, including mobile phone recharge in return for the recyclable waste dumped in the Smart Bins.
Under the Swachh Bharat initiative, the Union Ministry of Urban Development is planning to roll out Smart Bins in 75 cities, including Chennai.
These ‘bins’ will resemble an ATM kiosk, equipped with a 21-inch touchscreen, printer, camera, Aadhaar card barcode reader, biometric identification system, card reader and Wi-Fi hotspot.
Those wanting to dispose of waste will have to use the touchscreen to enter their phone number and empty trash like bottles, cans, plastic sheets and the like, which will then be sent to recycling plants.
In return, the user will get e-cash and reward points that can be used for mobile charge, free coupons and vouchers, free tickets and cashback.
Run by solar power or regular electricity supply, the kiosk will also enable the users to undertake transactions like phone recharges, paying utility bills, school and college fees, and insurance premiums, and also to book bus and movie tickets.
The smart bins will be introduced in 15 locations in Delhi in the first phase.
Varanasi and Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, Mumbai and Pune in Maharashtra, Chandigarh, Bengaluru and cities in Andhra Pradesh and Goa are already on board to introduce the facility. Initially, about 30 bins would be provided to each municipal corporation.
Sources said Swachh Bharat Mission Director, Joint Secretary Praveen Prakash has written to the State to promote the technology under the ‘Made In India” initiative.
The mission directorate urged all urban local bodies to sign an agreement with the private firm that has designed and patented the technology.
According to Prakash, the urban local bodies will have to pay `6,000 plus service tax per bin-cum-kiosk per month.
The minimum contract is for 10 years.
Sources in Chennai said the viability of the idea, mooted during the smart cities initiative, is being studied now.