Of Cashless Transactions, Public Transport and Waste Segregation

I have lived the past year in Melbourne, studying and working in this land down under. And ever since my arrival I have been mesmerized by many 'modern' amenities enjoyed and systems employed by the City of Melbourne. There are many aspects of Melbourne or even Australia that I wish for my country, but as we like to say at home 'budget constraints' is the one to blame. Still, I will share my experience and views, even if it only informs my readers.

Amongst many, their cashless transactions with swipe, tap or touch is pretty impressive. And coupled with that, the usage of apps in phones and wearables as alternatives to the physical card is also very convenient. 

Local banks in Bhutan have also started their cashless payments, but using apps and cards for seamless electronic fund transfer (EFT) payments is still in its infancy in Bhutan, for now. Coupled with that, proper online shopping, or even dropshipping within Bhutan has a huge potential, which is mainly being captured crudely via social media, mainly Wechat and Facebook.

Second to this (at least for me) is the public transport system, with its buses, trams and trains. Melbournians really take their public transportation system very seriously. They have a dedicated Transport department that works in tandem with VicRoads (the equivalent of Bhutan's RSTA) to ensure their network of buses, trams, trains run effortlessly, improves with time, and also create space for walking and cycling. 

Back home, city buses are truly a boon to many in Thimphu, except for their inconsistencies and the fact that they share the road with the already packed roads during rush-hour traffic. And the fact of the matter is, there aren't simply any more areas to extend the roads without affecting the aesthetics of the landscape. Flyover and underpasses are simply not an option. The only alternative is for more and frequent city bus services.

Then there is Melbourne's waste management ecosystem, which is very encouraging and doable even for Thimphu Thromde. I shall not dive into the intricate network but simply touch on a segregation-at-source part of the system, which takes citizenship participation in waste management to the next level. 

They call it their four-bin waste and recycling system. They use colour coded bins (or bin-lids) for easier identification. The bins are meant for different municipal solid wastes. 

https://www.vic.gov.au/four-bin-waste-and-recycling-system

For this system to work properly, there should be two-fold 'changes'. Firstly the consumers should be willing to segregate the wastes properly at their homes. This will include vigorous social-media campaigns to reach the message to the public so that they can improve on their existing recycling habits. There should be value-based behavioural changes so that the public can participate willingly.

Secondly, the existing collection system should be strengthened with consistent communication and reach. The contractors who collect the wastes should not only be motivated by profit but also exhibit strong leadership in waste recycling.

The recent social experiment on waste conducted in Changzamtog, Thimphu by the GNHC, NEC, UNDP and Thimthrom is an eye-opener and should make way to full implementation in the city. In my personal stand, the 3 bins should be paid for by the landlords/homeowners as part of their rental obligations to the tenants.