Free cup of chai in exchange of waste at the Ardh Kumbh

While there are several benefits of not littering in public places (escaping fines, keeping the surroundings clean, et al), at the ongoing Ardh Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, the visitors have an incentive to make sure the already existing litter and junk in the premises is recycled. The mela administration, in association with a leading tea brand, has set up multiple kiosks across the mela premises which give free cups of tea in exchange for recyclable waste. (BCCL)
“The kiosks are fitted with sensors above the lower part, which is a dustbin. As soon as someone drops some waste like a water bottle or tetra pack or even food wrappers, the sensor catches that and the system pours tea in a cup, much like any other tea vending machine. The only difference here is that instead of money, the machine takes waste material as payment,” explains an official from the Kumbh organising committee. There are over a dozen of these kiosks in the mela, and several dozen more strewn across Prayagraj city in major areas like bus stands and the railway station. The waste collected is picked up by the city’s municipal body every evening and taken to the city’s dumping grounds for recycling. There is no set weight or quantity of waste required for a cup of tea. One small plastic water bottle is enough to be registered by the sensor. Officials say the initiative is an effort to keep the mela clean and reward people for cleaning the area, as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission.