GIVO (Garbage In, Value Out), a leading climate technology and circular economy startup, today successfully launched its third zero-carbon recycling center at Abraham Adesanya Junction, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Eti-Osa, Lagos.

The inauguration ceremony, which coincided with the International Day of Climate Action on October 24, marks a significant step forward in solving Lagos’ pressing waste management challenges.

The launch brought together climate change activists, sustainability enthusiasts, representatives from various development aid organizations and others to experience GIVO’s state-of-the-art solar-powered facility. At the launch event, GIVO Founder and CEO Victor Boyle-Komolafeas well as various members of its team, presented GIVO’s innovative approach to waste management, recycling and strengthening the circular economy.

The team presented their end-to-end circularity process through an interactive exhibition. Visitors witnessed the complete transformation journey – from waste collection and sorting to the mechanical recycling process, where plastic materials are cleaned, crushed and processed.

The exhibition highlighted GIVO’s innovative recycling initiatives, showcasing a range of colorful flower pots, key rings and decorative items made primarily from bottle caps. Although some processed materials are made into these consumer products, GIVO also partners with various buyers who purchase recycled materials for use in their manufacturing processes.

GIVO team members explain GIVO’s eco-friendly processes, from plastic collection to household goods production.

Coasters and flower pots – some items GIVO Africa has made from plastic bottle caps

Titilope, a local community member who attended the launch of GIVO Ajah and has previously collaborated on educational programs, shared her transformative experience:

Before participating in this launch, I thought of trash as just trash – something to throw away and forget about. But after discovering their circular economy approach, I now view every plastic bottle and container as a resource waiting to be transformed.

Today’s launch of our Ajah center represents a crucial milestone in GIVO’s mission to revolutionize waste management in Nigeria; said Victor Boyle-Komolafe, CEO and founder of GIVO, during the opening ceremony.

This installation demonstrates how technological solutions can address environmental challenges while creating significant economic opportunities in our communities.

GIVO Founder, Victor Boyle-Komolafe, Main Installation Exhibition

Adetomiwa IsiakaHead of Partnerships at GIVO, highlighted the collaborative nature of the initiative;

The success of our Ajah center demonstrates the power of strategic partnerships in the search for circular economy solutions. Through our experience working alongside corporate partners such as Coca-Cola and Firestone, as well as local government authorities and community organizations, we have refined a model that is both environmentally and economically sustainable.

Our partners are not just supporters: they are actively participating in building a waste-free future for Nigeria and West Africa as a whole. Through the power of partnerships, this facility and other GIVO centers can truly impact communities.

Damilare Ajayi, Product Manager at GIVO, demonstrated the technological innovations of the installation:

Our system tracks materials seamlessly from collection to final product. Through a combination of specialist software and devices, we ensure that each batch of recyclable materials is monitored at every stage of processing, providing us with relevant data on waste processing and environmental impact.

Our proprietary software and processes improve efficiency and route processing, while also enabling us to provide clear impact reporting to our partners, reinforcing GIVO’s commitment to sustainability.

The launch comes at a critical time for Lagos, which currently generates between 13,000 and 15,000 tonnes of waste per day, of which less than 8% is recycled. GIVO’s micro-community approach, exemplified by the new Ajah center, aims to establish self-sufficient recycling centers in diverse communities, addressing both environmental concerns and the cultural root causes of waste management problems.

This Ajah Center, supported by the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK), will serve communities within a 5 km radius, providing door-to-door collection of recyclable materials while creating up to 50 direct local jobs and income opportunities for more than 500 people, putting the focus on women and youth in the surrounding community.

The center is part of the GIVO-Warwick project, funded by the UK government through UK Aid under the Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) programme.

Since 2022, GIVO initiatives have achieved remarkable results. So far, their low-carbon recycling centers in Lagos (Maryland), Abuja (Wuse 2) and Liberia (Harbel) have diverted more than 2,000 tonnes of plastic from landfills and bodies of water and to avoid 35,000 tonnes of carbon emissions. .

The three centers also created approximately 80 direct jobs, 1,400 indirect income opportunities and facilitated the distribution of more than $50,000 in financial incentives to community members.

GIVO team member Ibrahim demonstrates carbon-free plastic shredding process

The new facility uses GIVO’s signature combination of physical and software technology to track and collect recyclables, using data-driven insights to tailor waste management solutions to specific community needs. This innovative approach has gained international recognition from organizations such as the World Economic Forum, UNIDO, AFD, BBC and CNN.

The launch of the Ajah center marks the start of GIVO’s expansion plans across Nigeria, with additional recycling centers planned at various locations across the country. GIVO plans to launch its next recycling center in Ikota, Lagos and Port Harcourt, Rivers State by early 2025.

GIVO is a circular economy initiative that is revolutionizing waste management in Nigeria through technological solutions and community empowerment. Focused on sustainability and job creation, GIVO collaborates with organizations like Coca-Cola and Firestone to implement carbon-free, community-centered recycling and upcycling solutions in Nigeria (Lagos – Maryland, Ajah and Abuja – Wuse 2) and Liberia (Harbel).

For more information about GIVO, visit the website and for partnerships and requests for information, contact (protected email)

Sponsored content