Keeping it simple for easy access As practical as apps may be for those who have a smartphone and the necessary skill set to use it, it seems necessary to design particularly low-threshold information and applications to cater to the sometimes low social status and educational disadvantages of waste workers in the global South. With this in mind, Circular Action, an initiative of the globally active NGO BV-Rio, developed the KOLEKT app not just for, but together with waste pickers. It also works offline and requires virtually no text.42 Other app operators cooperate with charities to give out smartphones as part of local government programs for job creation,43 and Plastic Bank offers training opportunities to the waste pickers in its projects to expand their digital skills and use the various features effectively.44 Demand determines supply The increase in legal regulations on the implementation of extended producer responsibility (EPR) also makes digital applications interesting for businesses that are looking for solutions for their waste management but who cannot fall back on established public waste management systems. Providers have responded to this demand. For example, as part of the recycling programs Duitin offers, corporate customers can rally their employees to pool their points together by using a company code; a tracking function tracks how their own workforce is impacting the environment.45 Founded in 2021, Octopus, another Indonesian venture, is already tallying 150,000 users and cooperates with 60,000 waste collectors. It also works with over 20 brand companies, all of whom it supports in implementing their annual sustainability targets46 by offering reporting services and audits. 42 Circular Action (n. d.) (1) 43 Shu (2022) 44 Interview statement by Peter Nitschke, Plastic Bank 45 Duitin (n.d.) (2) 46 Referred to as extended stakeholder responsibility in Indonesia. Veca-App Duitin-App Source: Veca Source: Duitin 36
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