Cash-for-trash Scheme opens way to a cleaner Lagos Lagos recycling-for-rewards start-up Wecyclers has just won the lucrative King Baudouin African Development Prize, which could help roll out the social enterprise across Nigeria and, in time, Africa.
E
very week in Lagos, Nigeria,
collect – which they can redeem for
a team of purple-T-shirted
essential goods such as food and
young men and women
household items – Wecyclers has
Nigeria and across the continent. Such ambitions were given a boost in March when Wecyclers was
riding motorised tricycles, vans
managed to incentivise a sizeable
chosen above 200 other applica-
and trucks weave amid the densely
sector of the Lagos population
tions to be awarded the 2018-2019
populated slum neighbourhoods
previously unmoved by the need to
King Baudouin African Development
to pick up recyclable waste such as
recycle.
Prize, worth €200,000 (US$
plastics, cans and sachets in a bid to
Since Wecyclers began in 2012 –
225,000).
improve environmental sustainabil-
when the team’s collectors would
ity and community health.
travel by bicycle – its chief executive,
that improve quality of life and
In this ever-swelling megac-
The prize recognises initiatives
Wale Adebiyi, says it has collected
empower local people to take their
ity, where 18 million-plus residents
about 5,000 tonnes of recycla-
future into their own hands.
generate 15,000 tonnes of waste per
ble waste, given more than US$
day and there are towering landfill
100,000 as rewards to residents and
sites in most districts, this may seem
seen more than 17,000 Lagosians
a Sisyphean task; but Wecyclers, the
subscribe to the scheme.
Nigerian start-up behind the venture,
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WINNERS Wecyclers has won a number of awards
has found a way to the heart of the
Growing success
problem.
The company’s founder, the Lagos
By rewarding low-income
born and raised Bilikiss Adebiyi
residents with points based on
hopes the success in her home
the weight of recyclables they
town will translate to other cities in
Wecyclers’ rewards scheme gives value to the collection of recyclable materials. Service subscribers can exchange their points for food and household items
