RecycleSpot, a New African Recycling Innovation Aims to Connect and Empower People
During the previous two-and-a-half decades, Africa’s economic growth has been among the most rapid in the world. The last ten years have seen a six percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth per annum, and, measured in purchasing power parity (PPP), Africa represents the fourth largest economy in the world today.
However, in spite of the unprecedented economic expansion, more than two-thirds of all Africans are still impoverished, surviving on less than two dollars per day. Given that approximately one quarter of all poor people in the world live in Africa, the coming years’ development in that country will directly affect how well the world succeeds in attaining the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.
Africa is undoubtedly a dynamic, diverse, and complex society. The caste system, although unofficially abandoned, is prevailing, and many groups remain poor, disadvantaged, and secluded from the economic and political scenes. The increasing industrialisation and fast growth does not only pose problems related to the allocation of resources and powers, but also severely challenges the natural environment. Africa has a waste problem and its evenly distributed across the continent. As of 2010, waste generation in Sub-Saharan Africa was approximately 62 million tonnes per year. In 15 years, this figure is expected to double. Economic development, urbanization, and an increase in income levels are often seen as positive trends.
A new sustainable waste recycling innovation, RecycleSpot aims to act, connect and empower people and local communities through recycling. The innovation acts as a collection hub for post-consumption customers and recyclers that receive recyclable waste from individuals in return for incentives and household items in low-income Niger Delta communities, encouraging recycling and creating jobs. It was this inkling – to connect recycling, social entrepreneurship and eliminating global poverty,” said Mfon Edet.
“RecycleSpot promotes reuse and creates a meeting-point of ideas by tracking success stories and accelerating partnerships for social innovators working on recycling in Africa”.
Meantime, the venture plans to rollout recycling spots in local communities for collection and also create a variety of crafts from recyclable waste. The innovation works by employing locals who pedal door-to-door on modified bikes that pull large carts with collection bags. They collect recyclables from subscribers’ homes and weigh them; subscribers receive points via text message for every kilogram of recyclables.
