We are a for-profit social enterprise supporting environmental sustainability, socioeconomic development, and community health. Our organization provides convenient recycling services in urban neighborhoods. In addition, we give households a chance to generate value from their waste and provide a reliable supply of raw material to the local recycling industry.

PROBLEMS WITH PLASTICS

Did you know that uncollected trash is a major problem in developing countries. As a result, traditional waste collections have always been inadequate, specifically in poorer neighborhoods. Without incentives, there is not an easy way to engage communities to collect and hand in their waste.

That is to say, people living in poor conditions without formal waste collection are at risk of the spread of diseases. For example, improperly disposed trash tends to clog gutters and drainage canals leading to floods during rainfall. In addition, trash can also create stagnant water pools that create conditions for mosquitoes and other diseases to breed.

EMPOWERING PEOPLE WITH TRASH

We see waste collection as a way of bringing social change in the poorest neighborhoods of Lagos. Most importantly, we have developed a game-changing model that is valuable to the people who collect the waste. For example, our employees travel through residential neighborhoods on low-cost cargo bikes. As a result, local residents give empty plastic bottles, boxes and glass for which they receive cash or earn credits that they can exchange for food or household goods. Most importantly, this creates a way for local communities to increase income, clean up waste and drive impact for communities.

AWARDING AWARENESS. DRIVING CHANGE

We have developed a new project where parents can use credits earned from plastic waste to pay for their children’s school fees. The model is being piloted and will be rolled out to many more schools in the future.

Author: Wecyclers