Waste management: GIVO launches zero-carbon recycling centre

To sustain proper waste management, GIVO (Garbage In, Value Out), a leading climate-tech and circular economy startup firm, recently launched its third zero-carbon recycling hub in Lagos.

The ceremony, which coincided with International Day of Climate Action, marked a positive step in addressing Lagos’ pressing waste management challenges.

The state-of-the-art, solar-powered facility began operations amid strong community support, introducing an innovative approach to waste management in the Ajah area of Lagos.

GIVO’s Chief Executive Officer/Founder, Victor Komolafe-Boyle, said: “Today’s launch represents a crucial milestone in GIVO’s mission to revolutionise waste management in Nigeria.

“This facility demonstrates how technology-driven solutions can address environmental challenges while creating meaningful economic opportunities in our communities.

“The centre will serve communities within a five- kilometre radius, providing door-to-door collection of recyclables, while creating up to 70 local jobs, with a focus on employing women and youth from the surrounding community.”

During the launch, GIVO showcased its end-to-end circularity process through an interactive exhibition.

The exhibition highlighted GIVO’s innovative up-cycling initiatives, displaying an array of household items produced from recycled materials, including flower pots, key-chains, and decorative items crafted primarily from bottle caps.

A local community member, Titilope Omo, who had previously collaborated with other education programmes, shared her transformative experience, saying: “Before coming to this launch, I viewed waste as just waste, something to be thrown away and forgotten.”

But after learning about the circular economy approach, I now see every plastic bottle and container as a resource waiting to be transformed”

The centre is part of the GIVO-Warwick Project, funded by the United Kingdom (UK) Government through UK Aid, as part of the Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) Programme. Since 2022, GIVO’s initiatives have achieved remarkable results: Diversion of over 2000 MT of plastic from landfills and water bodies, Prevention of 35,000 MT of carbon emissions, Creation of over 50 direct jobs and 1,400 indirect employment opportunities and Distribution of over $5 million to local communities through recycling incentives.

The launch marked the beginning of GIVO’s expansion plans across Nigeria, with additional recycling hubs planned for various locations throughout the country. GIVO plans to launch its next recycling hub in Ikate, Lagos by early 2025.