Trashpays: Transforming Waste into Economic Resource, by Abbas Badmus

E-commerce is the use of the internet for marketing, identification, payment and delivery of goods and services.

Through the e-commerce technology, the internet has revolutionised the mode of business transactions by providing customers with the ability to bank, invest, purchase, distribute, communicate, explore and research from virtually anywhere, anytime where there is internet access.

A few examples of e-commerce marketplace platforms include Amazon, eBay, Alibaba, Shopify, Jumia, Konga, JiJi, Expertnaire e.t.c.

E-commerce plays a significant role in the marketplace, both nationally and internationally. With more people making purchases online rather than at traditional retail stores, it is becoming a fast-growing area of business and one to strongly consider as you plan your own career.

E-commerce is a huge part of the economy and is vital to businesses that sell their products or services online. It gives businesses the ability to reach more customers than traditional retail.

With so many people making their purchases online, it is the fastest-growing retail market.

E-commerce waste management startup, Trashpays says its operations have been programmed to ensure the profitable empowerment of Nigerian youths through active participation in the company’s innovative waste management initiative.

In an exclusive interview with TechDigest, the co-founder of Trashpays, Oyetunji Adewale Bashir said that the company will help impact Nigerians by creating awareness for greener environment, improving sanitation and hygiene through their mobile application and its navigation features.

He explained that the startup was set up to solve waste management problems by providing a platform for buying and selling of items produced from waste.

According to him, the company has economically empowered many youth who are working as household trash collectors on the platform.

Trashpays was established to solve problems relating to waste management. The platform is a hub where households, trash collectors, reclyclers, and industries buy and sell products.

“We provided a template for upcycling and innovation of crafted items from waste and reusable items on our platform.

“Trashpays also enable youth empowerment through Trashpays Agent engagement whereby able youth involve themselves in advocacy and trading.

“We provide them with tricycle for collection of trash items from households. In return they exchange these items for point system that is later converted to cash through personal registered account of the user on our platform.

The Trashpays co-founder also told Techdigest that his company was prepared to engage relevant stakeholders to encourage partnership and patronage from individuals, government institutions, and private sector organisations in Nigeria.

“We are trying so hard to involve stakeholders that understand the importance of good physical environment to human development. With the Sustainable Development Goals and Climate Change Advocacy, we believe we can partner with government, non-governmental organisations and philanthropies to develop sustainable cities and communities.

“We are proposing a Recycling City to investors and donors of green environment and environmental adaptation. For now, we need patronage. We are trying to be big in marketing and awareness on the positive impact that our ideas and innovation can bring to Africa and the world at large.

Benefits of e-commerce include its around-the-clock availability, the speed of access, the wide availability of goods and services for the consumer, easy accessibility and international reach, creation of more jobs, lower operational costs, easier and more convenient shopping, allows comparison shopping among others.

The perceived challenges of e-commerce include sometimes low internet penetration, network reliability issues, limited customer service, consumers not being able to see or touch a product prior to purchase and the wait time for product shipping, fear of inadequate security, high cost of accessing the web, lack of trust in retailers, unreliable last-mile delivery, lack of privacy and confidentiality.

The federal government and private organizations should invest in training, adequate publicity and other enlightenment programs that are very vital to change the negative attitudes of consumers to e-commerce transactions with emphasis on e-shopping, e-banking and e-business.

Public and private sector stakeholders should systemically expand high speed information network and recruiting skilled IT personel as this will promote the growth of e-commerce in the country.

Above all, while the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is investing heavily in developing capacities in the sector, it is important that the government should provide enabling environments to enable startups access funds to conduct research and develop their products.

Abbas Badmus is a Staff Writer with Techdigest