Launch a recycling pilot in Lagos, Nigeria

LagosWecyclers

$3,895

Raised of $3,000 USD

Successfully funded on Aug 02, 2012
46 supporters
129%%

About This Project

Unmanaged waste torments cities across the developing world. This pilot is the beginning of our efforts to change that.


Street view in Itire, Nigeria

Following our research in Lagos in January, we are returning to Nigeria to provide the first-ever recycling service in slum communities. Wecyclers gives low-income households a chance to recycle by providing convenient collection
services and offering incentives to participate. Households that recycle with Wecyclers receive redeemable points via SMS in exchange for the materials that they recycle. At quarterly redemption events, subscriber households will be able to redeem their points
for basic goods like food items, soap, and cell phone credit. We take the material that we collect and sell it to local recyclers.

From August through December 2012, Wecyclers will run a pilot recycling program in the community of Itire in Lagos, Nigeria. This pilot will allow us to test our SMS platform and our low-cost collection infrastructure to determine
how to run the Wecyclers’ service sustainably so that recycling services can be expanded to other communities in Lagos, and beyond.

Use Of Funds

$3,000 Tipping Point Goal

If we reach our tipping point goal of $3,000 we will be able to create a pilot recycling program for 200 households in Itire for 5 months. 
This includes $1,500 for recycling awareness events, household registration and training, $1,300 to employ a former waste picker at a living wage (160% of Nigeria's minimum wage) to conduct household recycling collection, and $200 to cover the cost of
SMS messages we’ll send to households to track their redeemable Wecyclers points.


If we hit our stretch goal of $12,000 we will be able to quadruple the size of our launch to include 800 households in our pilot launch and employ four additional former wastepickers.


$12,000 Stretch Goal


Latest News

No updates yet.

Rewards

Select Reward
$10.00

Access to the hilarious out-takes from our Wecyclers video shoot and a thank you letter.

997 left

Select Reward
$25.00

Wecyclers wristband and a thank you letter.

982 left

Select Reward
$50.00

A recycle bin pen holder, access to photo slideshow of pilot events, and a thank you letter.

990 left

Select Reward
$100.00

A Wecyclers t-shirt, access to photo slideshow of pilot events, access to an online playlist of Nigerian music, and a thank you letter.

991 left

Select Reward
$250.00

All Level $100 rewards plus an extra Wecyclers t-shirt and recognition on our website as a supporter.

997 left

Select Reward
$500.00

All Level $250 rewards plus an African patterned tablecloth and a letter from a former waste picker about life as a Wecycler.

1000 left

Select Reward
$1,000.00

All Level $500 rewards, a craft made from recycled materials by Nigeria artisans, naming rights for a "Wecycle" collection vehicle.

100 left

Select Reward
$2,000.00

All Level $1000 reward plus the option of tour of the pilot operations in Lagos and a meal with the team OR a 1-hour phone call with one of the founders. Please note that travel expenses are not included.

100 left