Wecyclers, a Lagos-based waste management startup has been awarded €200,000 by the King Baudouin Foundation African Development Prize. The Prize will allow Wecyclers to expand business further and increase impact at both national and international levels. It was selected out of 244 applications for its innovative approach and economic impact.
Lagos residents generate 15,000 tons of waste per day, but only 40% is collected by the municipal government. Wecyclers’ model is designed to help reduce solid waste in the streets of Lagos, improving both the environment and the wellbeing of populations.
Wecyclers applies technology solutions such as SMS technology and a mobile application, as well as low-cost collection vehicles to collect recyclable waste from households to recycling plants for processes.
“We are proud to recognise Wecyclers for their very effective model,” said Hervé Lisoir from the King Baudouin Foundation. “The independent Selection committee selected the enterprise out of 244 applications for its innovative approach to engaging the community, turning recycling into an economic driver for communities and turning citizens into agents of change.”
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Wecyclers has more than 17,000 subscribers in 7 localities in Lagos. It registers around 200 new members each month. By rewarding citizens with “points,” it allows low income communities to get value from their waste and has created 200 jobs in 7 years, with a focus on women, who currently account for 60% of their workforce.
“Giving back to the community is in the DNA of Wecyclers. We want to expand our business to other neighbourhoods. In the midterm, we want to be big enough to build our own recycling plant. Growing more for Wecyclers, means being able to give back even more to the community,” said Olawale Adebiyi, CEO of Wecyclers.
Wecyclers recently partnered with major corporations, such as Unilever, to launch “kiosks” in places where there are no collection routes. Through its financial support of €200,000, Wecyclers will upscale their model with plans to expand in Lagos, other Nigerian cities and neighbouring countries. The Prize also provides access to a wide network of stakeholders in Europe and the US. With current growth projections, Wecyclers aim to collect 5,000 tons of recyclables by 2020 and could be serving 500,000 households by 2023.
The award ceremony will take place on June 12, 2019 in the presence of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium at the Royal Palace in Brussels, Belgium.
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