Top 5 Recycling Startups in Africa

Recycling is a global imperative, and Africa is no exception. With its growing population and increasing urbanization, the continent faces significant waste management challenges. However, innovative entrepreneurs and startups across Africa are taking on these challenges and turning them into opportunities for sustainable development. In this article, we’ll explore the top 5 recycling startups in Africa, their innovative approaches, and the impact they are making on the environment and local communities.

1. Wecyclers (Nigeria)

Location: Lagos, Nigeria

Founder: Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola

Founded: 2012

Website: Wecyclers

Mission: Wecyclers aims to promote environmental sustainability, improve the living conditions of low-income communities, and create jobs by collecting and recycling waste.

How it Works:

Wecyclers operates a door-to-door waste collection service in Lagos, Nigeria.

1. Collection at the Source:

Wecyclers’ approach begins with collecting recyclables directly from the source, which is often individual households. To do this, the company equips waste collectors with specially designed bicycles. These collectors are typically individuals from low-income communities where waste separation and recycling might be less common. The choice of bicycles as a means of transportation is both environmentally friendly and practical, as they can navigate through narrow streets and reach areas that larger vehicles might not.

2. Identifying Recyclables:

Waste collectors working with Wecyclers focus on identifying and collecting specific types of recyclables. These can include plastic bottles, aluminum cans, sachet water bags, and other materials that can be repurposed. By targeting these materials, Wecyclers contribute to reducing the environmental impact of non-recyclable waste.

3. Earning Points:

One of the innovative aspects of Wecyclers’ model is the use of a point-based reward system. As waste collectors gather recyclables, they earn points based on the quantity and type of materials they collect. The more they collect, the more points they accumulate. This approach not only incentivizes individuals to actively participate in recycling but also provides an immediate benefit to the collectors.

4. Redemption for Rewards:

Accumulated points can be redeemed for a variety of rewards. These rewards serve as an additional incentive for waste collectors to engage in recycling. Common rewards include household goods, electronics, and even cash. This aspect of the model creates a win-win situation: waste collectors receive tangible benefits, while recyclables are diverted from landfills, reducing environmental pollution.

5. Transport to Recycling Facilities:

Wecyclers has its own fleet of cargo tricycles, which are used to collect recyclables from the waste collectors. This step is crucial as it ensures that the collected materials are efficiently transported to recycling facilities. By using cargo tricycles, Wecyclers avoids adding to the traffic congestion that is common in cities like Lagos and provides an eco-friendly mode of transportation for recyclables.

6. Recycling and Sustainability:

Once the recyclables reach the recycling facilities, they are processed and repurposed, contributing to sustainability and the reduction of waste. This is an essential part of the recycling loop, as it ensures that the collected materials are transformed into new products or materials, extending their useful life.

Impact:

Wecyclers has made recycling accessible to communities that were previously underserved. By creating an incentive-based system for waste collection, they have not only increased recycling rates but also improved the livelihoods of waste collectors. Since its founding, Wecyclers has collected thousands of tons of recyclables, reduced environmental pollution, and created jobs for many in Lagos.

2. RecyclePoints (Nigeria)

Location: Lagos, Nigeria

Founders: Mazi Ukonu and Chioma Ukonu

Founded: 2012

Website: RecyclePoints

Mission: RecyclePoints aims to provide an incentive-based recycling system that rewards individuals and communities for proper waste disposal and recycling.

How it Works:

RecyclePoints, a recycling startup in Lagos, Nigeria, operates a membership-based recycling program with a unique approach that encourages recycling while offering tangible incentives to participants. Here are three key points to explain this innovative system further:

1. Membership and RFID Cards: RecyclePoints operates on a membership basis, where individuals and households can register to become part of the recycling program. Upon registration, participants receive RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) cards. These cards play a crucial role in tracking and rewarding participants for their recycling efforts. RFID technology allows for efficient and accurate tracking of the quantity and types of recyclables collected by each member.
2. Points-Based System: The core of RecyclePoints’ approach is a points-based system. Participants are encouraged to collect and deposit recyclable materials, such as plastics, paper, glass, and metals, at designated collection points. These materials are then weighed, and points are awarded to participants based on the weight and type of materials they contribute. The more and the heavier the recyclables, the more points participants accumulate. This points-based system provides a direct and measurable incentive for individuals to engage in recycling activities.
3. Incentives and Rewards: RecyclePoints offers a range of incentives and rewards to participants based on the points they accumulate through their recycling efforts. These incentives can include cash rewards, mobile phone airtime, and household appliances, among other items. This multi-faceted approach ensures that participants have a variety of choices when it comes to redeeming their points. Not only does this system encourage recycling by offering tangible rewards, but it also addresses the diverse needs and preferences of program participants.

Impact:

RecyclePoints has helped instill a recycling culture in communities and households. By providing tangible rewards for recycling, they have encouraged more people to participate in waste separation and collection. The company’s efforts have led to cleaner neighborhoods, reduced landfill waste, and valuable incentives for participants.

3. Mr. Green Africa (Kenya)

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Founder: Keiran Smith

Founded: 2018

Website: Mr. Green Africa

Mission: Mr. Green Africa is on a mission to create a circular economy for plastics and other recyclable materials in Kenya and beyond.

How it Works:

Mr. Green Africa’s innovative digital platform has reshaped the recycling landscape in Kenya and Rwanda by connecting collectors of recyclables with aggregators, recyclers, and waste producers. Here are three key points that elaborate on this pioneering approach:

1. Efficient and Fair Market Pricing: Mr. Green Africa’s digital platform creates an efficient and transparent marketplace for recyclable materials. Collectors of recyclables, often individuals working in informal or unregulated conditions, gain access to fair market prices for their materials through the platform. This ensures that collectors are compensated fairly for their efforts, contributing to economic empowerment and poverty reduction. The platform’s pricing mechanism helps bridge the gap between waste collectors and the recycling industry, creating a more equitable and sustainable ecosystem.
2. Comprehensive Recycling Solutions: The platform offers a comprehensive solution for waste producers, which can include businesses, industries, and even households. By connecting waste producers with a reliable source of recyclable materials, Mr. Green Africa addresses a critical challenge in the recycling supply chain. This not only ensures a consistent supply of recyclables for industries but also reduces the environmental impact of waste disposal. The platform covers a wide range of recyclables, including plastics, paper, cardboard, glass, and metals, making it a one-stop solution for responsible recycling.
3. Responsible Recycling Practices: Mr. Green Africa is committed to responsible and sustainable recycling practices. They ensure that the collected recyclables are directed to recycling facilities that follow environmentally friendly processes. This not only conserves valuable resources but also reduces pollution and energy consumption associated with the production of new materials. By promoting responsible recycling practices, the startup contributes to environmental protection and the transition to a circular economy where materials are reused and recycled.

Impact:

Mr. Green Africa has created a more efficient and transparent recycling ecosystem in Kenya. By providing a fair market for recyclables, they have empowered waste collectors to earn a reliable income. Their efforts also contribute to reducing plastic pollution and promoting sustainable waste management practices.

4. Reel Gardening (South Africa)

Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

Founder: Claire Reid

Founded: 2002

Website: Reel Gardening

Mission: Reel Gardening seeks to make sustainable agriculture more accessible and efficient by simplifying the process of planting and growing vegetables.

How it Works:

Reel Gardening’s innovative product, although not a traditional recycling startup, plays a significant role in addressing sustainability and waste reduction. Here are two key points that elaborate on its impact:

1. Reducing Seed Wastage and Promoting Successful Gardening: Reel Gardening’s biodegradable paper strips with pre-spaced seeds offer a practical solution to the issue of seed wastage. Traditional methods of planting seeds often result in uneven spacing, leading to the need to thin out seedlings, which can be wasteful. With Reel Gardening’s product, the seeds are pre-spaced at the ideal distance for growth. This reduces seed wastage, as there is no need for thinning, and promotes successful vegetable gardening by ensuring that each seed has the space and resources it needs to thrive. This approach not only conserves seeds but also contributes to food security and sustainable agriculture.
2. Environmentally Friendly and Reduced Plastic Usage: Reel Gardening’s paper strips are made from 100% recycled newspaper and are coated with an organic, biodegradable polymer. This choice of materials aligns with sustainability and waste reduction principles. By using recycled newspaper, the startup reduces the demand for new paper production and diverts waste materials from landfills. Additionally, the biodegradable polymer ensures that the paper strips do not contribute to plastic pollution, as they break down naturally over time. This approach not only reduces plastic seedling trays but also minimizes the environmental impact of gardening practices.

Impact:

Reel Gardening has made vegetable gardening more accessible, even to those with limited gardening experience. By using biodegradable materials for their products, they contribute to reducing plastic waste from traditional seedling trays. Their approach aligns with the principles of sustainability and responsible resource use.

5. Collecteco (South Africa)

Location: Cape Town, South Africa

Founder: Misha Teasdale

Founded: 2018

Website: Collecteco

Mission: Collecteco’s mission is to repurpose, recycle, and redistribute surplus goods and resources to organizations and communities in need.

How it Works:

Collecteco serves as a vital bridge between organizations and businesses with surplus items and those in need, aligning with circular economy principles and resource conservation. Here are two key points to further elucidate its significant impact:

1. Minimizing Waste and Landfill Contributions: Collecteco’s core mission is to prevent surplus items, which can include office furniture, equipment, and supplies, from ending up in landfills. Instead of discarding these items, businesses and organizations can connect with Collecteco to ensure that their surplus resources find new homes and purposes. This minimizes waste and significantly reduces the environmental impact associated with landfill disposal. By giving these items a second life, Collecteco contributes to resource conservation and aligns with the principles of the circular economy, where materials and products are kept in use for as long as possible.
2. Promoting Sustainability and Resource Efficiency: Collecteco’s focus on collecting, refurbishing, and redistributing surplus goods promotes sustainability and resource efficiency. Through the refurbishment process, items that may have been considered outdated or unusable can be brought back to a functional state, extending their lifecycle and reducing the need for new items to be produced. This, in turn, conserves resources, reduces energy consumption, and minimizes the environmental impact associated with the manufacturing and disposal of new goods. Collecteco’s efforts underscore the significance of repurposing and recycling as essential components of sustainable resource management.

Impact:

Collecteco’s innovative approach helps reduce waste and environmental impact by extending the life of items that would otherwise be discarded. They also contribute to the sustainability and efficiency of nonprofit organizations and community projects by providing them with valuable resources.

These top 5 recycling startups in Africa represent the ingenuity and determination of entrepreneurs who are addressing environmental and social challenges on the continent. They offer creative solutions to waste management and sustainable living while contributing to the growth of green economies in their respective regions. Through their work, they demonstrate that recycling is not just an environmental responsibility but also a pathway to economic and social development.