Categories
Themes
Background
The initiative started as an assignment in an MBA course. The founders spotted a gap in the market for affordable collection of recyclable waste in low income communities. They believed they could create a viable business to meet this need, using bicycles and other small vehicles to access difficult side streets and alleyways that are too narrow or steep for collection trucks.
Approach
Wecyclers incentivises the collection of recyclable waste in low-income communities by paying for recyclables. Subscribers receive points per kilogram of recyclable waste collected, which they can spend on essential goods. In areas that large vehicles struggle to navigate due to narrow roads and other obstructions, waste is collected using cargobikes called “wecycles”. Motorized tricycles, vans and trucks are also used. As of October 2015, 525 tons of waste had been removed from the streets and over 6,500 households were using the service.
Environmental Impact
Success Factors
Evidence
Evolution
Challenges
Factbox
Founded in
2012
Project type
Founded by
Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola and colleagues
Founding Organisation Two
Founding Organisation Three
Operated by
Wecyclers
Households reached
UN Sustainable Development Goal(s)
