Circular Economy

Enviroserve Rwanda operates East Africa's only state-of-the-art e-waste dismantling and recycling facility through a public-private partnership with the Rwandan Government. In 2023, Rwanda launched a national campaign to boost e-waste collection and recycling, partnering with the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, Ministry of Environment, RURA, UNEP, and ITU. The campaign raises awareness about proper e-waste disposal and its environmental and health impacts. The facility offers free e-waste collection from government institutions and provides certified data destruction, battery recycling, and technical training programs. The initiative has created over 300 green jobs with plans to expand to 1,000.

Wecyclers is a Lagos-based social enterprise that transformed waste management behavior in low-income communities through an innovative incentive-based model. Households receive points for every kilogram of separated recyclables, redeemable for electronics, household items, training, or cash. The company deploys cargo bikes and tricycles to navigate narrow streets in densely populated areas where municipal services are inadequate. The program has fundamentally shifted perceptions of waste from "trash" to "currency" - residents now proactively register as they see neighbors receive rewards. Wecyclers has created 80+ jobs and aims to sign up 1 million Lagos homes.

The United Nations Environment Programme partnered with Nigeria's National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) to establish a sustainable e-waste recycling model addressing Nigeria's significant e-waste challenge - approximately 71,000 tonnes imported annually, often disguised as donations. The partnership developed the National Environmental (Battery Control) Regulations 2024, implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) making manufacturers responsible for product recycling. Producers now contribute to public information campaigns, training programs, and collection systems. The model addresses the informal sector where workers engage in hazardous practices without protective equipment.