Cordie Aziz, Ghana’s Queen of recycling, showing them how it’s done
Biography
Cordie Aziz is the Founder and Executive Director of Environment360. Founded in 2014, Environment360 is the fastest growing environmental NGO in Ghana and focuses on creating innovative educational resources about the environment for children living in coastal and urban areas. The organisation specializes in creating inclusive recycling programs for both community and corporate organizations that have real economic and environmental impact for the communities that participate. Aziz is credited for creating the first successful community recycling program, Evolve. Through this program her organization, Environment360, has collected more than 120 tons of plastic and 200 tons of paper in 2 years. She also skilfully negotiated with the Accra Metropolitan Authority to make Envirnment360 the recycling coordinator for the city of Accra to increase the amount of plastic waste collected in each providers’ district. Aziz is considered an authority on plastic waste management in Ghana and is often sought out by multinationals, diplomatic and development partners to provide insight on plastic waste management issues in Ghana. Her expertise has led her to work with industry giants such as Fan Milk, Dow Chemical Company and Voltic, the largest water supplier in Ghana. Aziz is a passionate entrepreneur who likes to help empower other social entrepreneurs to create viable industries that have social and economic impact. She holds a bachelors degree in Mass Communications from Jackson State in Jackson, Mississippi and a masters degree in Public Adminsitration from Bowie State University, in Bowie, Maryland; both United States based schools. Before creating Environment360 Ms. Aziz worked on the Committee for Homeland Security for the United States Congress, doing policy research and advising the Staff Director on general legislative issues She is also the co-founder of the Congressional African Staff Association. Before working for Congress, Ms. Aziz was the public relations director for the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC), the largest apprenticeship program, under the oldest established electrical union International Brotherhood of Electrical Work (IBEW).
Creating inclusive recycling programs for both community and corporate organisations
We use human centred design to work with the informal sector to create a collection system that not only improves their work conditions, but also creates an effective collection system for urban residents. Last year, Environment360’s staff was trained by MIT’s D-Lab. Through our training we learned how to help those with little or no formal education use a proven design process to help solve every day issues that face them in their lives and work. Through our workshops we are able to instil confidence in informal workers that help them create tools that improve their work. It also teaches the group how to work in teams and gives them the basic skills they need to run a business. We also work with corporations to help them adapt sustainable habits by helping create and implement their recycling programs. So we create containers for them, as well as train staff and janitorial staff on how to participate in recycling programs. Our innovative education in schools, communities and corporations has allowed us to become a go-to partner in the plastic recycling industry.
Why other African countries must emulate this laudable project
At this point it is critical. The continent of Africa has one of the fastest growing populations so it will undoubtedly keep producing more and more trash. Many African countries are also still combating environmental diseases such as malaria, typhoid and cholera as well. Research shows that recycling is a better option than landfilling or incinerating waste because it creates jobs. It is why countries like the Netherlands and Germany are pushing circular economies, where recyclable materials are used as raw materials for new products. With high unemployment, recycling initiatives like Evolve can change the economic and environmental landscape of every African country. What are they missing out on? Countries that don’t engage in recycling are not only losing out on valuable land that can be sold or used for ventures in the future, but also losing out on jobs and cheaper raw materials for industries. Research done by the EPA in the US, the Canadian, Netherlands and even the World Bank show there are a myriad of economic and social benefits to creating recycling initiatives inside of countries. African governments ensuring residents adapt sustainable habits is really a matter of long term survival for our environments and economies.
Working on the Committee for Homeland Security for the United States Congress
Working for Congress was such a privilege, especially as an African from the Diaspora. It taught me so much about the importance of relationships and how those connections can be used to help individuals. It was also quite interesting working with people that are looked at as icons. I think working on Capitol Hill taught me networking as well as really allowed me to better form my thoughts and ideas. It taught me how people make decisions and most importantly it taught me to always lead with facts and never be too emotional about business. Working on the Hill is all about strategy and keeping an eye on your objectives and I think it definitely prepared me to be an entrepreneur.
How your initiative helped to transform Ghana’s recycling program/initiative?
When I first started Evolve many people mocked the idea, they all said it couldn’t be done. Then an amazing thing happened, it worked. We literally have thousands of people that segregate their trash in houses and bring them to our containers, even sometimes I am amazed. We have some of the top corporations supporting us and we have been able to create a movement when many before us tried and failed. It is a pure illustration of God’s grace and favour. We have also been instrumental in building investor interest in the plastic industry in Ghana. When we first started there was one PET buyer, now there are 4. Our data collection provides the baseline data many businesses need to make viable cases for market entry. We also have directly educated more than 10,000 children and from our qualitative data we know we are effecting real behavioral change in these children, which will benefit Ghana for the next 50 years.
Projections
We expect to be the innovator in inclusive recycling systems throughout West Africa. We hope to work with governments throughout our region to help them drive the economy through the creation of recycling programs. We hope to use our proven system to educate communities on the benefits of a clean environment and hope that we can ensure that all of West Africa becomes a leader in manufacturing recyclables so that we can drive economic, environmental and social success.
Challenges
There are very few women in the waste management industry. I think worldwide less than 5% of the workforce is made up by women. This can always present a challenge when presenting ideas and models, since many are not used to a woman in this industry. As a result, if you do not have a strong desire to push to be seen you can definitely be overlooked by key decision makers.
Returning to Africa
Returning to Africa 6 years ago was the best decision I ever made. Not only did I find my purpose, but I know that each day I am helping people improve their lives and that is a feeling that can never be explained. I really believe in the work I do and to see it impacting so many lives is an unbelievable feeling.
Kemi Ajumobi