Cashing in on trash

ENTERPRISING University of Bahrain students Ahmed Mohammed Majdi and Mahmood Thamer Al Reefi are seeing gold in a pile of empty cans.

Their business initiative entitled 'Cash Trash' took the Gulf region's runners-up award at the Microsoft Imagine Cup and was recently presented to 70 potential investors in Dubai.

The visionary duo are hopeful an environmentally-conscious entrepreneur will step forward to support their 'genius touch' which has the potential to provide some hope for a country that generates more than 1.5 million tonnes of garbage a year.

The plan involves using smart cards and 'intelligent' garbage cans to successfully use information technology to create a sustainable future for the next generation.

It encourages people to discard empty Pepsi, Coke and other soft drink cans at designated recycle bins by offering points which can later be exchanged for gifts. The more points - the better the prize. While the consumers win by collecting points, nature profits by recycling and the students and their backers also earn a profit by selling on the aluminium cans to re-processors. The partners, who call themselves Genius Touch, said that it took four months to come up with the brainchild and another three months to complete the business model.

Mahmood, 22, said: 'The idea revolves around motivation. We looked at ourselves as role models ... what would make us go to the recycle bin to get rid of our garbage. We were looking for something that would initially encourage youngsters and then could soon become a habit.

'We did our research, put out questionnaires to both girls and boys at the campus and found that on an average every student drinks 1.8 cans of soft drink a day. In Bahrain, we often spot labourers rummaging through garbage and selling aluminium cans to scrap dealers for 550 fils per kilo.

'Using available and proven smart card technology we worked out a financial study on an assumption that every student will consume at least one can per day. We went into the details such as capital expenditure, gifts, staff costs, transportation and electricity consumption and found that from the University of Bahrain alone we can make a profit of BD3,846 per month.'

Ahmed, 20, said: 'We wanted to prove to ourselves that we could not only come up with a good idea that is financially and environmentally sound but would also inspire people to act in an environmentally-friendly way. It has the potential to make Bahrain a role model in the region.'

Six teams took part in the contest and the Genius Touch team from Bahrain was the first to represent the kingdom.

The project helped the students exploit their potential and boost their confidence.

Mohammed said: 'We are computer engineering students and for the first time we worked on a brochure, background research and financial study. It was a very big day when we gave a presentation for the first time in front of 150 people.'

The students are hoping that they get an opportunity to present their project to investors in France.

'It will be fantastic,' added Mohammed, 'Bill Gates will be there.'