Wecyclers is a waste management company in Nigeria that helps low-income communities exchange their recyclable waste which is measured in kilograms for cash and other rewards.[1]
History edit
The waste management company Wecyclers began as a student project in respect to this, Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola has now modified it into a social enterprise that combats Lagos' garbage crisis and encourages low-income communities to turn refuse into revenue.[2]
In 2012, Wecyclers was founded by Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola and her co-founders. Wecyclers uses low-cost cargo bicycles to provide convenient recycling services to households across Nigeria.[3][4]
In 2023 the company gained funding for a plant in Ogun State that will be able to recycle PET bottles funded by a Norwegian initiative.[5]
Partnership edit
Wecyclers is in partnership with various organizations which includes; Nestle Nigeria,[6] Guinness Nigeria[7] and Lagos State Waste Management Authority.[8]
In 2023 the company joined a partnership with Unilever and the UK government organised by Societe Generale. Wecyclers was to receive funds for expansion and they targeted a collection of 30,000 tonnes of waste plastic to be collected over the next five years. Unilever saw their investment as keeping plastics out of the environment in Nigeria.[9]
Awards and recognition edit
References edit
- ^ Kazeem, Yomi. "Lagos recycling start-up, Wecyclers, wins backing from Steve Case Foundation". Quartz. Retrieved 2022-05-28.
- ^ "'It's money lying in the streets': Meet the woman transforming recycling in Lagos". the Guardian. 2015-10-21. Retrieved 2022-05-28.
- ^ "Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola - The startup story of a young Nigerian eco-preneur turning waste to profit". Lionesses of Africa. Retrieved 2022-05-28.
- ^ "Foundation to Award Nigerian Start-up Wecyclers in Brussels". THISDAYLIVE. 2019-06-12. Retrieved 2022-05-31.
- ^ Magoum, Inès (2023-07-20). "AFRICA: Wecyclers and Miniplast obtain $12.7m for plastic recycling". Afrik 21. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
- ^ Uzor, Franklin (2019-10-04). "Nestlé Partners With Wecyclers Against Plastic Waste". Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission. Retrieved 2022-05-28.
- ^ "Guinness Nigeria partners Wecyclers on waste management". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2018-04-17. Retrieved 2022-05-28.
- ^ BellaNaija.com (2017-04-13). "#LagosIsRecycling! Wecyclers partners with LAWMA to Reward Nigerians for Recycling Waste Materials". BellaNaija. Retrieved 2022-05-28.
- ^ Singsit, Jangoulun (2023-04-18). "Unilever Nigeria and Wecyclers team up on plastic waste management". Packaging Gateway. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
- ^ BellaNaija.com (2017-06-14). "Nigeria's WeCyclers Bags Grand Prize in Le Monda Smart-Cities 2017 Global Innovation Awards". BellaNaija. Retrieved 2022-05-28.
- ^ RefinedNG (2020-05-27). "Wecyclers". Refined NG. Retrieved 2022-05-28.
- ^ "NIGERIA: Wecyclers wins King Baudouin Award for Development in Africa". Afrik 21. 2019-03-27. Retrieved 2022-05-28.