Kachra Cafe: Bhopal’s unique spot to turn trash into treasure | Fusion - WeRIndia

Across India, innovative steps are being taken to tackle the growing waste problem.

Bhopal has now joined the movement with its own Kachra Cafe, a creative hub that turns trash into treats.

Set up by the Bhopal Municipal Corporation near the city’s 10th Number Market, Kachra Cafe is more than just a waste collection centre.

It blends sustainability with rewards, encouraging residents to recycle responsibly and enjoy benefits in return.

The idea is simple. Citizens bring in waste, newspapers, cardboard, e-waste, plastics, clothes, and more.

Staff weigh the waste and send an SMS with ‘Kachra Currency’ based on the weight. This digital currency can be used to buy snacks or eco-friendly art and craft at the cafe.

The slogan said that people could turn their trash into treats, highlighting an experience that was fun, engaging, and beneficial to both the environment and the public.

Kachra Cafe targets two major issues: a lack of daily recycling and a lack of motivation to do it.

By offering real rewards, it encourages people to take part in waste segregation. This makes processing waste easier and more cost-effective.

According to BMC, over half of Bhopal’s plastic waste includes banned items.

These, along with mixed materials like metal and paper, make recycling tough.

The cafe helps sort this waste at the source, reducing the burden on processing units.

Visitors can explore craft items made from recycled materials or grab a snack from the redemption centre on site.

With this model, the cafe also promotes local artisans and eco-friendly products.

Kachra Cafe in Bhopal is inspired by a similar concept first launched in Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh.

That project was India’s first, led by the Ambikapur Municipal Corporation.

Through this initiative, Bhopal not only manages waste smartly but also builds a community around sustainability.

With Kachra Cafe, waste is no longer a burden; it’s a currency for change.

Image from Pxhere (Free for commercial use / CC0 Public Domain)

Image Published on January 05, 2017

Image Reference: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/245286