In Nigeria, the innovative urban waste management system, the "Wecyclers", won first place at the 2014 edition of Sustainia, a competition that rewards the best sustainable projects in the world
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
In Africa i waste they are managed like this: on bicycles, rewarding citizens who do separate collection. We are in Nigeria, where the innovative urban waste management system, the "recyclers“, Won the first place at the 2014 edition of sustainia, a competition that rewards the best sustainable projects in the world.
Wecyclers consente all low income community of Lagos, one of the largest cities in Nigeria and all of Africa, of make money by cleaning the streets of the city. The city's recyclable waste, such as plastic bottles, bags and cans, is collected with a real fleet of cargo bicycles.
The more you can differentiate, the greater the points earned by each individual "collector", which can then be converted into free minutes of conversation to upload to your mobile phone or in foodstuffs or even in household products. The goal is only one: to promote good recycling habits in low-income families. And 5 thousand families are already registered.
For these peculiarities, the Nigerian project received the international award "Best Sustainability Solution“, Which recognizes sustainability solutions with significant potential to help build a more sustainable future.
Wecyclers is therefore, in all respects, an answer to the problems of local waste collection, considering that the Nigerian government collects only 40% of the garbage of its cities with only 13% of recyclable materials recovered from landfills.
“I have always thought that our initiative was not very 'tenological', but of great impact - says Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola, CEO of Wecyclers. But we focused on building something that would solve the specific problems of the communities in which we operate. Many other cities can help their communities in similar ways and provide a cleaner and healthier environment for their citizens. This award gives us a great opportunity to share our work ”.
In short, the solutions to combat climate change are not only those with great high-tech implications focused on reducing emissions, creating adequate infrastructures or efficiency, but they can also be based on very simple things. Like one bicycle.
Germana Carillo
Photo: Facebook
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