Smart Recycling Solution

SRS is a Fintech and waste management solution designed to solve the problems of financial exclusion, low income and plastic waste pollution.

Nigeria, the biggest economy in Africa with a population of over 200 million people generates over 32 million tons of solid waste annually, of which plastic constitutes over 2.5 million tons. Less than 10% of this plastic waste is recycled, while the rest ends up in water bodies, drainages, landfills and farmlands where they constitute a nuisance to the environment.

On the financial front, the latest financial inclusion report from Enhancing Financial Innovation & Access (EFInA) shows that about 36% of the adult population (106 million), representing 38 million citizens, do not have access to financial services in Nigeria. The EFInA data showed that only 64% of Nigerian adults were financially served by the end of 2020 — up from 49% in 2018. Of this 64%, only 51% of Nigerian adults have access to formal (regulated) financial services due to offerings from banking, microfinance bank institutions, mobile money, insurance, or pension accounts.

Available data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) shows that Nigeria recorded a marginal decline in financial inclusion rate from 40% in 2012 to around 36% in 2020. However, due to population growth, the number of financially excluded adults increased from 36.6 million reported in 2012 to 38.1 million in 2018, meaning 1.5 million adults fell into the exclusion circle during the period.

This 2020 figure is below the CBN’s 80% financial inclusion target for the year 2020. The CBN target wasn’t met, partly because the CBN was still trying to use traditional banks to solve the financial inclusion challenge focusing their attention on the already banked population, rather than the unbanked in rural and underserved areas. There were no economic incentives for these banks to roll out physical access points/machines in rural areas as it wasn’t financially viable for them, most of the population in this area are unemployed or underemployed women and youths who are illiterates and are excluded in the financial ecosystem and market.

As regards this challenge, SRS will be working to provide access to financial services to the low-income population who are unbanked, underserved, and vulnerable Nigerians, particularly the women and youths living in the rural areas, mitigating against factors such as

• Lack of Required Documentation
• Low Levels of Financial Literacy
• Lack of Close-Proximity Service Points

These factors have created a barrier and reduced the opportunities for people to own bank accounts or digital wallets that will provide an entry point into the formal financial system that allows people to save, invest, manage their finances, and use other financial services, such as credit and insurance.

There is a need to introduce an innovative approach that will onboard the teeming population who are financially excluded from the ecosystem.

According to the National Communications Commission (NCC, 2023), Nigeria has 227 million active mobile phone subscribers. SRS is designed to assign a unique digital wallet and QR code to mobile phone users onboarded as plastic waste depositors on the digital platform, it then credits these digital wallets when they deposit their recyclable waste. This provides a gateway to financial inclusion where users open mobile money accounts with plastic waste and other recyclables.

SRS comprises a web/mobile application that enables users to register using a phone number as an account number (Digital Wallet) and a unique identifier to register as:

• Ambassadors: influencers who will onboard users (especially agents) in their local area to earn commissions
• Depositors: General public
• Collection Agents: strategically located businesses to serve as hubs around every 5km radius within target communities. We will use the franchise model to engage existing businesses such as point-of-sale (POS) agents, local traders, restaurants, schools, hotels and event centres, where users can deposit waste to earn money. These hubs will be branded with informative banners describing how SRS works.
• Distribution Agents: truck drivers that collect recyclables from collection agents and take them to the storage hub.
• Storage Hubs: where the recyclables are stored.
• Off-takers: End-users of the recyclables

The SRS application simplifies user registration and trade-in of recyclables using a block-chain model, designed with the following features:

• Digital wallets are linked by API to mobile money platforms and are used to store and convert earnings to funds for financial transactions.
• QR code generator/scanner converts users’ information to a QR code to enable collection agent to scan and perform actions (for depositors)
• Application program interface (API) integrates with mobile money operators, e-commerce companies and automated machines (recycling vending machines and water ATMs)
• USSD code enables users to dial a code on any mobile phone (analogue or smartphone) to register and withdraw earnings.
• On-demand Portal where home users can request the pick-up of their recyclable
• E-commerce platform where end users can purchase recyclables
• Google pin location locates collection agents
• WhatsApp chatbot for registration and enquiries

 How it works:

Registration:

• Every user can register via web/mobile app or by dialling a USSD code
• A QR code, account number and digital wallet are generated and linked to our mobile money partner platform which creates a mobile money account for the user.
• Generated details are sent to the user’s phone numbers as SMS and email address.

Depositing:

• Users will deposit waste at the collection agent’s location and payments are sent to their digital wallet. Home users can deposit their waste in their QR-coded bin to receive their earnings.

Payment:

• Users can visit SRS collection agents or mobile money partners to withdraw their earnings as cash and access other financial services.

SRS users do not require any documentation other than their phone number to participate, users without internet or smartphones (63% of Nigerians) can either dial a USSD code or call the SRS toll-free line to register.

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Our intervention is designed to serve every Nigerian, it is however targeted at low-income populations, particularly women who constitute over 50% of Nigeria’s estimated population of over 200 million people. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria has the highest number of people living in poverty globally, with over 63% of the population being multidimensionally poor, and according to IMF statistics, over 60% of the poorest people in Nigeria are women.

According to the 2021 Enhancing Financial Innovation & Access (EFInA) financial inclusion report, 38.1 million Nigerians (35.9% of the adult population) do not have access to financial services in Nigeria - higher than any other country in Sub-Saharan Africa. The report also revealed that adult men are more likely to have bank accounts than adult women (51% vs 39%); women are significantly more financially excluded than men, with a gap as high as 8% points (40% vs 32%); women also tend to use more informal financial services than men (15% vs 12%). Over 44% of adults in rural areas, where over 70% of poor people live, are financially excluded. The report also demonstrated a direct correlation between financial health and financial inclusion. Financial inclusion is crucial for driving the resilience of households, individuals and national economic growth; it is also key to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. 

As end users and community members, women are the main cooks, caretakers, shoppers and the primary consumers of single-use plastic. They are also key actors in the reduction of plastic pollution and recycling because they play a major decision-making role in household purchasing, disposal and management of plastic waste. In this project, low-income populations, especially women, even without access to capital, will find picking and selling recyclable plastic a viable means of survival.

This technology-driven plastic waste recycling project will empower low-income earners especially women to become champions of plastic recycling through:

• Financial inclusion, by enabling them open and operate digital and mobile bank accounts using their mobile phones (analogue and smart)
• Provision of structure that formalizes plastic waste picking and opportunities for expansion of income.
• Incentivization of women and households to explore plastic waste recycling as a source of sustainable revenue generation with zero capital.
• Enhancement of the circular economy of plastic recycling through technology – making the domestic recycling stream of plastics viable and lucrative
• Provision of a solution to the environmental challenge posed by plastic waste, and promotion of a cleaner plastic-free environment.

Ado-Odo / Ota LGA, where the solution is being piloted, is a semi-urban LGA which borders on metropolitan Lagos; and of its total population of approximately 1 million people, most of whom are low-income earners, about 508,574 of them are women. Within five years, the project aims to reach over 300,000 women and low-income earners in the pilot LGA and empower them to generate sustainable income through a plastic waste recycling circular economy as well as operate mobile bank accounts with their mobile phones.

EHAI is an indigenous tech-driven non-governmental organization with over 10-year experience planning and implementing research, training, and intervention projects in 14 states across the Northern and Southern regions of Nigeria. We partner with organizations and stakeholders to design interventions using appropriate technology including artificial intelligence, mobile technology, and digital frameworks to address challenges within communities. 

We are adept in community-based health and social interventions, especially in rural and underserved communities. A very critical part of our projects involves Community System Strengthening through the active and continuous engagement of all existing community structures including community-based organizations (CBOs); Community Development Committees; Ward Health Committees; Traditional and Religious Leaders; Community Gate Keepers etc.   Engagement activities include social mobilization campaigns, mapping, and engagement of change agents.

Over the years, the team has supported over 40 community-based organizations (CBOs) to implement several community-based projects. We have built the capacity of over 1300 Community Health and Social Workers, 300 non-healthcare workers and 550 community volunteers. We have been involved in curriculum development, capacity building for staff of government agencies, CBOs and healthcare providers, GIS Mapping of hot spots, community outreaches and Implementation research for evidence-based decisions.

The team is implementing a community-based project on active case finding (ACF) of patients with Tuberculosis (TB) in Ogun and Lagos States. This project has engaged and trained over 500 low-income earners (90% female) as Community Volunteers (CVs) to conduct door-to-door TB case finding. The project operates a performance-based financing system for the payment of CVs. Over the past 30 months, the project has provided a steady source of income for about 450 women in Lagos and Ogun States.

At the conceptualization stage of the SRS project in 2022, the team had several high-level meetings with top officials of the Ogun State Ministry of Environment and Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA) and the Food and Beverages Recycling Alliance (FBRA). FBRA is a non-profit industry collaboration platform set up to galvanize responsible players in the food and beverage industry to support and scale-up waste collection/buyback and recycling programs. They set the pace for Nigeria's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program.

The team engaged the network of women community volunteers, community gatekeepers, plastic waste pickers and local plastic recycling companies in Ado-Odo/Ota LGA through focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs). The FGDs and KIIs were focused on taking a deep dive to gain valuable insights into itinerant plastic waste picking, sale and recycling activities as well as the perception of the communities on economic empowerment through plastic waste recycling. 

The team has also had several engagements with the paramount traditional ruler of the LGA, and his Chiefs. The community donated land measuring about 1,200m2 for the project. The outcome of these high-level engagements (which are still ongoing), FGDs and KIIs were incorporated into the design of the SRS project as well as the planning and implementation of the pilot phase of the project, which the Traditional Ruler flagged off on the 16th of November 2022.

The SRS project is currently being piloted in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area (LGA) of Ogun State. It is one of the twenty LGAs in the state located in the southwestern part of Nigeria. Ado-Odo/Ota is a semi-urban LGA, it covers an area of approximately 878 square kilometres with a population of about 1,000,000 people and slightly over 50% (508,574) of them are females. Most of the inhabitants of the LGA are low-income earners who engage in various economic activities including factory work, agriculture, trade, and crafts.

The LGA shares a border with Lagos State, Nigeria's commercial capital, and many people who work in Lagos also live in Ado-Odo/Ota LGA due to the relative affordability of housing in the area compared to Lagos. The proximity of Ado-Odo/Ota LGA to Lagos has made it a strategic location for businesses and industries that seek to take advantage of the economic opportunities available in Lagos. 

One of the key industrial areas in Ado-Odo/Ota LGA is the Agbara Industrial Estate, which is home to several multinational and local companies, including pharmaceutical, food and beverage, and chemical manufacturing companies. In addition to the Agbara Industrial Estate, Ado-Odo/Ota LGA also has other industrial areas such as the Otta Industrial Estate, Sango-Ota Industrial Estate, and Ota Industrial Estate. These industrial areas host various industries, including steel manufacturing, plastics, printing, packaging and recycling companies.

Since November 2022 to date, the SRS pilot project has onboarded 550 women and other low-income earners in the LGA. Their registration can be disaggregated as such:

• Ambassadors – 3 (2 women)
• Collection Agents – 20 (14 women)
• Depositors – 527 (413 women)

The project has set up 20 different plastic collection points manned by the Collection Agents within the community.

The waste management and recycling industry in Nigeria is in its inchoate stage, there is a massive gap between the demand for plastic waste by recyclers and the plastics wastes generated by the existing plastic waste collection system. 

Critical constraints include:

• Slow adoption of an appropriate technology-driven solution
• Infrastructure Barriers: Nigeria has limited waste management infrastructure, which could make it difficult to collect and recycle plastic waste
• Market Barriers: The market for recycled plastic is not well-developed in Nigeria, which could make it difficult to sell recycled plastic and generate revenue from the solution.
• Poor data on waste generation: data on waste generation is lacking and where it is available it is incomplete or inaccurate, making it challenging to develop a comprehensive plastic waste management strategy and a standardized approach to project plastic waste generation.
• Lack of political will: politicians may prioritize other issues over waste management and plastic recycling. They may not see the value in investing in a new technology-based solution to waste management and plastic recycling
• Financial Barriers: Limited access to finance for scaling up the solution from 1 LGA to 20 and then 774 LGAs
• Cultural Barriers: In some parts of Nigeria, waste collection is traditionally carried out by specific groups of people, and it may be difficult to change these cultural norms and practices.

Addressing these barriers is critical to the successful adoption, uptake and scale-up of SRS. This requires a multi-faceted approach that includes addressing technical and financial issues, building public awareness and engagement, and working with government and regulatory bodies to create an enabling environment for the solution. We have identified and addressed most of these challenges through our solution. 

We however need help and support to deploy the SRS at scale. We plan to leverage the Solve community's resources, connections, and expertise to advance our solution. We are therefore applying to MIT Solve for support with:

1. Upgrading the SRS software with the following features:
I. A dedicated USSD code 
II. An Android mobile app for all users
III. An IOS mobile app for all users
IV. A dedicated server
V. An artificial intelligence assistance platform (chatbot)
VI. E-commerce platform where recyclables can be traded.
2. Implement the SRS carbon credit portal that plans to convert recyclables to credits for carbon emitters.
3. Branding and publicity
4. Empowering our agents with the tools needed to carry out their duties effectively
I. Provide branded bags, nets, digital weighing scales and banners.
II. Provide Bins and nets to be placed at strategic places during the roadshow.
5. Legal and technical support on how to conclude our partnership discussions with Othalo Homes. Othalo is a Norwegian company that uses plastic waste to build affordable houses. To deploy their innovation, they require a feasibility study, and market research to ascertain the viability of the project as well as the capacity to generate over 100 tonnes of plastic waste daily.
6. Placing SRS on the world recycling map and taking SRS beyond Nigeria to other African countries 

SRS was carefully designed with the African market in mind to boost the circular economy and achieve a clean and green environment. The SRS ecosystem combines ICT, finance, e-commerce, and recycling to convert plastic waste and other recyclables into a kind of currency that gives users access to financial services. 
The huge gap between the demand for plastic waste by recyclers and the responsibility of manufacturers to provide solutions to plastic pollution is largely being filled by an unstructured system of waste pickers and scavengers. In addition, existing technological interventions addressing plastic waste are inaccessible to people without smartphones and internet access. 

SRS will catalyse financial inclusion by creating better technology in an open-source way using the following digital approach:
1. The Application Programming Interface (API) feature of the SRS application will enable easy integration with the following businesses to gain easy adoption and scalability:
I. Mobile Money Platforms: SRS will leverage existing Mobile Money Platforms and the point-of-sale (POS) service providers (with over 1.9 million terminals as of Dec 2022) to expand reach to the rural communities where users can deposit waste and get access to financial services through the POS agents. The POS integration also enables SRS collection agents to operate a POS business and carry out transactions such as cash-in-cash-out and other financial services via our partner Mobile Money & Switching license companies approved by CBN.
II. Recycling Vending machines: the API can connect to vending machines and depositors can drop their waste into the vending machines to receive payments into their recycling account. 
III. Water ATM systems: the API can connect to water meters such that users can access clean water at the water ATM with the credits in their SRS account.
2. The Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD): With USSD every mobile phone subscriber can register (227million) to the SRS platform by dialling the USSD code which automatically opens a Digital Wallet and on-boards them to our Mobile Money partner platform and the users can access financial services.
3. The Introduction of plastic recyclables to build affordable homes is another innovation SRS is bringing on board. We are concluding a partnership discussion with OTHALO, a Norwegian company that converts plastic into affordable homes. OTHALO (https://othalo.com/) also partners with the UN-Habitat.
4. The Coded bin for every home initiative is one of the innovations SRS will be deploying, SRS will create a QR code at the backend once an account is opened for users, this code can be printed and affixed to depositor’s bin so collectors can pick the recyclable content and send payment to the registered owner of the bin.
5. The Blockchain and Franchising model of our solution is unique to our operation as every stakeholder on the chain gets value for the waste deposited through their network.
This approach will open new markets and business opportunities that will enable citizens to get value for their waste and provide a reliable supply of raw materials to the local recycling industry.

Impact Goal 1: Partner with Licensed Mobile Money Operators and Payment Service Banks:

I. Partner with 2 Licensed Mobile Money Operators and 1 Payment Service Bank in Nigeria at the end of Year 1

II. Partner with 80% of Licensed Mobile Money Operators and Payment Service Banks in Nigeria at the end of Year 1

Impact Goal 2: Onboarding of Collection Agents (Bars, POS Operators, Corner Shops, Local Businesses, Event Centers, Hotels, Restaurants etc.):

I. Onboard 1 Collection Agent per Square Kilometer in Ado-Odo/Ota LGA at the end of Year 1

II. Onboard 1 Collection Agent per Square Kilometer in all 774 LGAs across 36 States and FCT, Abuja at the end of Year 5

Impact Goal 3: Onboard Women as plastic depositors:

I. Onboard 5,000 women as plastic depositors (about 1% of the Female population) at the end of year 1

II. Onboard 5% of the female population across all 774 LGAs in Nigeria as plastic depositors at the end of year 5

Impact Goal 4: Reduce plastic waste pollution:

I. Collect 548 Tons of plastic waste from Ado-Odo Ota LGA at the end of year 1

II. Collect 1,000 Tons of plastic waste daily at the end of year 5

 To achieve Goal 1, SRS will partner with Licensed Mobile Money Operators and Payment Service Banks, the SRS project has developed an Application Program Interface (API) which will seamlessly integrate the digital wallet of users on the platforms of the Mobile Money Operators and Payment Service Banks.

To achieve Goals 2, 3 & 4, the SRS project will conduct a desk review to develop a comprehensive population-based geospatial map of Ado-Odo Ota LGA and all 774 LGAs in Nigeria. Based on lessons learnt from the pilot project in Ado-Odo/Ota, the SRS project will partner with the Ministry of Environment in each of the 36 States and FCT and FBRA for the scale-up to other states. The SRS team in collaboration with FBRA and State Ministries of Environment will launch the SRS project in the State Capitals. Two Environmental Health Officers will be invited from each LGA within the State for the State Launch. The Launch will serve as a market entry strategy to create awareness and advocacy for the conversion of plastic waste to wealth. The LGA representatives will be trained on the operations of the SRS, and they will be onboarded as Super Ambassadors saddled with the responsibility of coordinating the SRS project in their respective LGAs.

To create awareness and mobilize people to adopt SRS, we will develop Information, Education and Communication (IEC) messages and launch a comprehensive awareness and education campaign to promote the benefits of plastic waste collection and recycling and to increase knowledge and awareness about the SRS. These IEC messages will be shared via social (WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) and traditional (print and electronic) media across LGAs. The SRS project also has a 24-hour toll-free line where people can call in to make inquiries and obtain information on the solution.

SDG 1 (End Poverty in all its forms everywhere) Target 1.1: Our solution will contribute to the eradication of extreme poverty for all people, especially among women and low-income earners. 

Indicators:
- Number of women and low-income earners onboarded as ambassadors, collection agents and depositors earning more than $1.25 daily
- Number of women and low-income earners onboarded to provide financial services and earning more than $1.25 daily

SDG 6 (Clean water and sanitation) Target 6.3: Our solution will encourage the reduction of pollution of inland water bodies and reduce water quality by reducing the number of plastics dumped into these water bodies and minimizing the release of hazardous chemicals and materials.  

Indicators:
- Quantity of plastic waste collected daily at aggregation points (in Tons)  
- Quantity of plastic waste transferred to recycler weekly (in Tons)

SDG 9 (Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation) Target 9.1: Our solution will generate the required quantity of plastic waste for off-takers to use in the development of quality, reliable, sustainable, resilient, eco-friendly and affordable homes and roads.

Indicators:
- Number of off-takers of plastic waste onboarded
- Quantity of plastic waste transferred to off-takers weekly (in Tons)
- Number of homes built from recycled plastic waste annually
- Kilometers of roads built from recycled plastic waste annually 

Target 9.3: Our solution will also facilitate access of small-scale enterprises and individuals to financial services, including affordable credit, and their integration into value chains and markets

Indicators:

- Number of women and low-income earners onboarded as ambassadors, collection agents and depositors. 
- Number of women and low-income earners onboarded to provide financial services. 

SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) Target 11.1: Our solution will ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing using recycled plastic waste

Indicators:
- Number of safe and affordable housing units built from recycled plastic waste annually

SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) Target 12.5: Our solution will substantially reduce waste generation through the prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse of plastic waste. 

Indicators:
- Quantity of plastic waste collected daily at aggregation points (in Tons)  
- Quantity of plastic waste transferred to recycler weekly (in Tons)

SDG 13 (Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impact) Target 13.3: The project will develop IEC materials targeted at individuals and households, to educate and raise awareness on plastic waste and its negative impact on the environment and climate change. 

Indicators:
- Number of IEC materials developed.
- Number of individuals reached with IEC materials via social media

SDG 14 (Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development) Target 14.1:  Our solution will significantly reduce marine pollution from plastic waste

Indicators:
- Quantity of plastic waste collected daily at aggregation points (in Tons)  
- Quantity of plastic waste transferred to recycler weekly (in Tons)

Other indicators will include:
- Number of Licensed Mobile Money Operators partnered with
- Number of Licensed Payment Service Banks partnered with

Theory of Change

Activities:

1. Identify (through stakeholder analysis) and partner with relevant stakeholders to conduct awareness campaigns on the benefits of the SRS project through available communication channels.
2. Provide training to existing and potential stakeholders within the Blockchain Model on how to use the SRS platform.
3. Partner with Licensed Mobile Money Operators and Payment Service Banks to provide digital and mobile banking services.
4. Set up mobile money agents or kiosks or establish partnerships with retailers and other businesses to serve as collection agents.
5. Set aggregation points for gathering and compacting plastic waste from the communities.
6. Engage plastic waste off-takers.

Outputs:

1. Women and low-income earners in the community are aware of the benefits and can use digital and mobile banking services
2. Women and low-income earners in the community start earning money from plastic waste
3. Proper plastic waste management techniques are implemented, and plastic waste is properly recycled.
4. The environment, ecosystem, and human health are improved due to reduced plastic waste pollution.

Outcomes:

1. Women in the community have increased financial inclusion and improved financial well-being.
2. The amount of plastic waste in the environment is reduced through proper recycling and waste management.
3. The health and ecosystem of the community are improved due to reduced plastic waste pollution.

Impact:

1. Women in the community are empowered economically through the sale of plastic recyclables, and their households have increased financial stability.
2. The environment, ecosystem, and human health are improved due to reduced plastic waste pollution.

Assumptions:

1. Women and low-income earners in the community have access to mobile phones.
2. Women and low-income earners in the community are willing and able to participate in the digital and mobile banking program.
3. There is sufficient demand for mobile banking services in the market.
4. The project will have access to the necessary resources and partnerships to carry out the activities.
5. The project will be able to overcome any cultural or logistical barriers that may arise.
6. The community is willing to participate in plastic waste management and recycling initiatives.

Risks:

• New companies emerging in the recycling and waste management sector (Medium)
• Economic and political instability (Medium)
• Change in government financial and monetary (Medium)
• Insecurity and insurgency in volatile parts of Nigeria (High)

Mitigation:

• Our solution will establish partnerships with these companies to ensure they are accommodated on the platform.
• We will engage government officials and key stakeholders at all levels from the outset and continue to ensure we build relationships and obtain all necessary approvals and support.
• The SRS solution fits into the current CBN Financial Inclusion Strategy (2021 – 2024) which prioritizes women, rural dwellers, and other low-income earners for financial inclusion through the expansion of digital financial services and new business models.
• The project will collaborate with existing security infrastructures to ensure all our activities are guided by security intelligence reports.

Our Smart recycling solution leverages its key resource on modern technology, powered by Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP 7.2), a widely used open-source general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited for web developments to perform and act similarly to a mobile application.

The solution engages users, prioritizing responsive interactions, but is still delivered through the internet over a network. It works with Swiper, Lodash, jQuery, Isotope, and YUI as its JavaScript libraries while it uses Animate.css and Bootstrap as the framework for the user interface and runs on an Apache Hypertext Preprocessor (HTTP) web server. The database connection used by the solution in storing data is MySQL using localhost via UNIX socket, a multiuser, multitasking operating system (OS) designed for flexibility and adaptability.

Our solution has been developed to generate and assign a particular QR code to every user in encoding their data and emitting the relevant data when scanned. It also works with geo-coding application programming interface (API) and pin location to track and locate users using their phone numbers as unique identifiers.

Lastly, it also uses a third-party USSD provider and SMS messaging platform which has been integrated into the application using an API to make it easy and reliable in sending and delivering SMS messages to be used for authentication purposes during user registration and for communicating with a USSD gateway using an already assigned USSD code for checking wallet balance.

At EHAI, our leadership is a diverse team comprised of males and females from different backgrounds (Medical, business administration, finance, laboratory science), and different ethnic groups in the country. EHAI strives to become more diverse, equitable, and inclusive through the following:

• The core values of the organization are: excellence, professionalism, innovation, integrity, diversity & inclusion, agility and learning.
• A DEI Policy: we have a formal policy that outlines our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This will ensure that everyone on the team understands the policy and the measures in place to achieve the goals set out in the policy.
• Diversity workshop: As part of our effort to ensure everyone on the team understands the policy around DEI and the expectation from individual team members towards achieving our goal, the organization organized a workshop during our retreat in 2022 to further educate the team members. This workshop covered topics such as unconscious bias, cultural sensitivity, and effective communication across different cultures. Discussions centred around how team members can understand and overcome their personal biases.
• Recruitment process: EHAI is an equal opportunity organization and applications are reviewed based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience and not on gender, ethnicity or personal characteristics.

To incorporate DEI into this project the following have been carried out and will continue throughout the life of the project:

1. Acknowledge, identify and understand the diversity of the stakeholders: this has been initiated through a series of meetings, focused group discussions and key in-depth interviews with different groups represented in the implementation community. This has brought the unique perspectives and experiences of different team members and stakeholders.  This process has also ensured that the voices of the community members are heard through the engagement of community influencers and gatekeepers.
2. Provision of equal opportunity: This intervention provides equal opportunities and resources to all team members and stakeholders, regardless of their backgrounds.
3. Monitoring and evaluation: Progress and results on the project will be monitored and reviewed regularly to ensure the target population, especially women are effectively covered in the project. On digital platform will also have a feedback section where all stakeholders (irrespective of their level) can give feedback based on their experience with the project and on the use of the platform. The feedback will cover issues such as ease of registration, response of team members and ease of accessing funds through the e-wallet. Modifications will be made to the project based on the feedback to ensure all stakeholders feel valued and understand their opinions counts.
4. Program review meetings: open communication and active listening during our sessions will be encouraged to promote inclusivity.
5. Financially Inclusive programming: We are aware that this project may impact existing plastic pickers. As such, the technology is designed to ensure that low-income earners and women who do not have smartphones and cannot open a bank account are also able to be registered on the scheme. The intervention also allows individuals with zero capital to come on board.

Key Resources: 
1. Central Administrative Office
2. SRS Web and Mobile Application
3. Dedicated USSD Code
4. Blockchain Model Stakeholders (Ambassadors, Collection Agents, Depositors, Delivery Agents and Storage hub operators)
5. Plastic collection tools (Weighing scales and nets)
6. Compacting machines
7. Aggregation and Compacting Sites

Key Partners and Stakeholders:
1. Federal and State Ministries of Environment
2. Waste Management Authorities
3. Food and Beverages Recycling Alliance (FBRA) of Nigeria
4. Local Government Department of Environment (LGA Secretariats)
5. Community Leaders and Gatekeepers
6. Licensed Mobile Money Operators
7. Licensed Payment Service Banks
8. Blockchain Model of Stakeholders (Ambassadors, Collection Agents, Depositors, Delivery Agents and Storage hub operators)
9. Plastic waste off-takers (Recycling Companies, Affordable Home Builders, Road Construction Companies)

Key Activities:
1. Develop SRS Web and Mobile Applications, USSD Code and Social Media Platforms
2. Set up a central administrative office
3. Partner with Ministries of Environment, Waste Management Authorities, FBRA and financial institutions to conduct awareness campaigns on the benefits of the SRS project through road shows, social media and other communication channels
4. Provide training to existing and potential stakeholders within the Blockchain Model on how to use the SRS platform.
5. Partner with Licensed Mobile Money Operators and Payment Service Banks to provide digital and mobile banking services
6. Set up mobile money agents or kiosks or establish partnerships with retailers and other businesses to serve as collection agents.
7. Buy plastic wastes
8. Set aggregation points for gathering and compacting plastic waste from the communities.
9. Engage plastic waste off-takers and sell plastic waste to them

Type of Intervention: Fintech and recycling services

Channels: Website, USSD Codes, API, IEC Materials

Segments: Women and low-income earners living in rural, urban and underserved communities

1. Financial inclusion for women and low-income earners
2. Wealth creation and economic empowerment
3. A Green and sustainable blueprint to simplify recycling and boost the circular economy
4. A viable value chain that will convert plastic waste into a commodity
5. A reliable supply of raw materials to the local recycling

1. Web and Mobile Application development and maintenance
2. Central Administrative Office Space
3. Dedicated USSD Code
4. Bulk SMS
5. Roadshows, advocacy visits and awareness campaign
6. Development and production of IEC materials
7. Media coverage and campaigns
8. Branding
9. Plastic collection tools (Weighing scales and nets)
10. Compacting machines
11. Lease and construction of Aggregation and Compacting Sites
12. Human Resources
13. Logistics
14. Administrative cost

Revenue:  

Plastic waste is sold for $500/ton, with a huge unmet demand for plastic waste for the growing plastic recycling industry in Nigeria. Every individual is estimated to use about 0.015kg of plastic per day. We estimate that in the first year, we will generate 548 tons of plastic from Ado-Odo/Ota LGA. Over the next five years, we plan to scale the project incrementally through a franchising model to all 774 LGAs and generate an estimated 1,000 tons of waste plastic daily.

The SRS project is an integrated social enterprise initiative of EHAI, aimed at creating economic empowerment and financial inclusion opportunities for low-income populations (especially women) and enhancing the circular economy of plastic waste in Nigeria. The project operates on the social enterprise business models of Entrepreneur Support and Market Intermediary Business by providing business support and access to markets for the target population. It is estimated that over 10,000 metric tons of plastic waste are generated daily in Nigeria, with over 75% of them ending up in landfills where they are indiscriminately incinerated; drainages or waterways where they hinder the free flow of water and destroy water bodies; as well as cause climate change. All these cause adverse effects on wildlife, habitat and human health. A baseline survey conducted on the project and available data from FBRA revealed unmet demands for plastic waste in the recycling industry in Nigeria.

The SRS operates a blockchain model and on this pilot over 429 women are engaged as Ambassadors, Depositors, Collection Agents, Delivery Agents and Storage Hub Operators. Every woman in the blockchain earns an income from the sales of plastics wastes. The revenue generation for the financial sustainability of EHAI and the project will come from the collection and sale of plastic waste to plastic recycling companies. Ado-Odo/Ota LGA, the LGA where the SRS project is being piloted, has an estimated population of about 1,000,000 people. It is estimated that an individual within the community will generate an average of 0.015kg of plastic waste daily, hence an estimated 5,475 tons of plastic waste is generated annually in the pilot LGA.

There a huge unmet demand for plastic waste for the growing plastic recycling industry in Ado-Odo/Ota LGA and Nigeria The SRS project expects to collect at least 10% of the plastic waste generated in the LGA during this one-year pilot, thus about 548 tons is expected.  A baseline survey carried out revealed that plastic wastes are currently sold for $500/ton. The SRS project is thus expected to generate an estimated revenue of $274,000.00 (548 tons X $500.00/ton) at the end of this pilot phase. Based on the revenue sharing formula, about $205,000.00 (75% of the income) will be paid to low-income earners in the Blockchain Model, while $68,500.00 (25% of the revenue) will accrue to EHAI.  The projects also estimate a modest 10% annual increase in the collection of plastic wastes in the pilot LGA, it is projected that revenue generation will increase from $234,000.00 total revenue in year 1 to $4,131,920.00 cumulative revenue in year 5. Over the next 5 years, the project will be scaled up to all the 20 LGAs in Ogun State and all 36 States of Nigeria, and the Federal Capital Territory. 

The pilot phase of the SRS project was launched with a road show on the 16th of November 2022 at Oju-Ore market, in the heart of Ado-Odo/Ota LGA in Ogun State. Before the launch, the team engaged the traditional ruler and his chiefs, community influencers, religious leaders and market women leaders to create awareness. Information, education and communication (IEC) materials were developed in soft and hard copies for distribution within communities as part of the strategies to mobilize women and other low-income earners to gather their plastic waste and bring it to the venue of the launch/roadshow to exchange them for cash. Soft copies of fliers and video jingles were shared via social media through networks within the communities.

Over 175 women and other low-income earners from the communities showed up for the event, and about 25 of them came with various quantities of plastic waste on the day of the launch. All the 175 community members indicated interest and they were all registered and on-boarded on the SRS project as plastic waste depositors, agents and ambassadors. The available plastic waste was inspected and weighed, and the people were paid cash in exchange for the plastics wastes. About 10 metric tons of plastic were collected on this day, generating a revenue of about $5,000.00 (10 tons at $500.00/ton). About $3,750.00 was paid out to about 30 plastic waste depositors (25 of whom were women) on that day and EHAI earned $1,250.00.

Following the launch of the pilot, the SRS project has enrolled and onboarded over 550 women and other low-income earners from the LGA on the project. Their registration can be disaggregated as such: Ambassadors – 3; Collection Agents – 20; Depositors – 527. The project has set up 20 different plastic collection points manned by the Collection Agents within the community. The Depositors take their plastic to the most contiguous agent, the plastic is inspected, sorted, and weighed and the depositors are paid N100.00 ($0.217)/kilogram of plastic waste deposited. To date, the project has been generating an average of 7.5 tons of plastic waste every week. Thus far, about 90 tons of plastic waste have been collected and sold to the plastic recycling plant generating a revenue of $45,000.00