Abstract Summary/Description
While millions face scarcity worldwide, American households routinely discard perfectly good food and reusable items that could benefit others in their communities. This paradox has spurred governments and nonprofits to collaborate on innovative solutions, with waste reduction at the source emerging as a critical priority. This research investigates how CartSmall, a localized marketplace app, can transform community-driven e-commerce into a powerful tool for both waste reduction and social innovation. Through surveys and analysis of existing data, we examined the environmental impact of household waste and community members' willingness to share usable items with neighbors, fostering a circular economy and reducing landfill contributions. The findings reveal a compelling opportunity: communities showed strong enthusiasm for collaborative waste reduction, particularly favoring local marketplace platforms for trading surplus food and household items. Platforms like CartSmall do more than just divert waste—they promote sustainability by encouraging resource reuse and empower communities through shared responsibility and strengthened social bonds. However, challenges around user safety and privacy were identified. Some participants expressed concerns about home security during frequent exchanges or feared being targeted due to active participation. Addressing these concerns through secure drop-off locations, anonymous exchanges, and flexible digital-only interactions will be crucial for widespread adoption. Our findings clearly demonstrate the potential of community-based platforms to significantly reduce household waste while fostering sustainability and empowering communities. Further research will be needed to quantify specific environmental and economic benefits and ensure these solutions can scale effectively across diverse communities.
