Weclyclers integrates business and social entrepreneurship in waste management
Lagos, with an estimated population of 21 million is the largest city in Africa and generates between 12,000 and 15,000 metric tonnes of waste daily.
This is about 100 trailer load of waste.
Given the cosmopolitan nature of Lagos and the rapid population growth, it is expected that larger volumes of waste will be generated regularly. Unbridled urban pollution poses public health hazards.
Lagos Waste Management Agency (LAWMA) is at the forefront of waste management efforts in the megacity, but needs private sector participation to adequately prosecute this waste management war.
The agency absorbs private sector participation through licensing.
One of such private sector participants is Wecylers, which integrates the business of waste management with a philosophy of social entrepreneurship.
“Wecyclers is a waste management and sanitation company. We give low-income communities a chance to capture value from waste and clean up their neighbourhoods through incentive based recycling. We collect recyclable waste from our subscribers using low-cost bicycle-powered collection vehicles called “wecycles”. The wecycles are designed and manufactured locally and are operated by youths from local communities” explained Olakeyede Olayinka, technology analyst at Wecyclers.
Olayinka added, “In the developing world, urban waste management infrastructure is overburdened. Heaps of trash line streets, clog waterways, and lead to unsanitary living conditions for millions of people. In addition to disease, the blight of unmanaged urban trash undermines the pride that people have in their communities. At Wecyclers, we solve this problem by collecting recyclable waste and also providing sanitary services. We have been able to collects over 900+ metric tons of recyclable materials and prevented the emission of 992+ tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.”
On future plans at Wecylers, she said “be prepared to see us everywhere. We want to make an impact and be present in everybody’s lives. You know how important water is; that is how we want to be.”
STEPHEN ONYEKWELU