Wastezon

Ghislain is the Founder and CEO of Wastezon, a Rwandan company that is on a mission of creating a waste-free world by providing households/end-consumers and Recycling actors with cutting edge technologies for efficient waste traceability, sorting, and collection. Wasteon’s first product, “Wastezon App,” has diverted over 400 tons of electronics waste_an equivalent of 2600 metric tons of carbon emission from going to landfills. Before joining Wastezon, Ghislain organized the “Recycle for Environment” Campaign, which involved over 200 students in Creative Waste recycling in partnership with Tunza-Eco-generation Samsung Initiative. He currently represents the ACEN in Rwanda, and he is a youth Think Tank researcher at the Mastercard Foundation.  For his impact, he was awarded and recognized by World Bank Innovate4climate, UN-Habitat, One Young World. A UN Young Champion of the Earth Africa Regional Finalist, Ghislain was featured in different global press such as National Geographic, CNBC, and Build Magazine.  

7 in 10 Low-income households don’t access the waste collection services, leaving them exposed to sanitary threats such as Unsafe drinking water and polluted air. While about 75%of generated waste is bio-waste that could be turned into affordable fertilizers, over 75 Million Smallholder Africa farmers can’t afford fertilizers resulting in soli nutrients depletion and low harvest. With a vision of creating a waste-free and food-secure world, Wastezon introduced a win-win solution that responds to both households’ waste collection needs and the growing demand for fertilizers or compost. Wastezon Smart bin automatically biodegradable from non-biodegradable household waste, tracks decomposition, generates 20 kg of organic fertilizers, and provides real-time information to enable effective compost collection services. Our overall desired impact is to regenerate and recycle annual 10,000 tons of organic waste while impacting over 10 million African Households and 75 million African Smallholder farmers by 2030.

According to the World Bank, In Africa, over 90% of waste is often disposed of in unregulated dumps or openly burned. 7 in 10 Low-income households don’t access the waste collection services, leaving them exposed to sanitary threats such as Unsafe drinking water and polluted air. Waste that is generally dominated by organics is expected to increase by 70% from 2016 to levels of 3.40 Billion tons in 2050. On the other hand, over 75 Million Smallholder Africa farmers can’t afford fertilizers resulting in soil nutrients depletion and low harvest. Smallholder farmers who make 70 % of the population in Africa, account for little usage fertilizer to expensive costs and Limited domestic production. According to FAO, of all world regions, sub-Saharan Africa will see the fastest growth in fertilizer demand between 2018 and 2022; at 4.7 percent, this rate is much higher than the world average of 1.8 percent. This growing demand will require a meaningful increase in regional fertilizer production at affordable prices. Untapped opportunities in household’s organic wastes and high demand for organic fertilizers indicate a need for a win-win solution that responses to both household waste collection issues and provide farmers with affordable organic fertilizers.

With a vision of creating a waste-free and food-secure world, Wastezon introduced a win-win solution that responds to both households’ waste collection challenges and the growing demand for fertilizers. The first element of the project is the Wastezon Smart bin that quickly and efficiently decomposes the bio-waste into fertilizers. Backed by the Internet of things (IoT) Technology, the smart-bin automatically sorts the biodegradable waste from non-biodegradable waste and directly decomposes the bio-wastes into compost in 7 days.  After successful decomposition, IoT sensors notify the registered household on the wastezon app, which enables them to request Waste collection. The second project element is the Wastezon app that traces the registered farmers who currently need the bio-fertilizers and provides the logistics from the household to the farmers. The app also tracks other recyclers who can realize potentials from other non-biodegradable waste that the Wastezon Smart Bin generated, such as Plastics. Households access the Smart bin on a leasing model, allowing them to generate revenue from fertilizers obtained from the smart-bins. 

Initially, in 2019 Wastezon launched the Wastezon app in Kigali, Rwanda. The app provided households and recycling actors with efficient waste collection, sorting, and traceability. By sorely focusing on electronic waste, the Wastezon app helped the recycling actors outsource their raw materials while on the other hand helping the households to get rid of their e-waste by selling them. Over 150 e-scrappers, 3 recycling Industries, 160 households had transacted with each other over 416 tons of e-waste, which is equivalent to 2826.42 metric tons of avoided Carbon emissions.

After engaging with our users, we found that we were partially solving the problem, and found that to achieve a waste-free world, we need to tap into all waste streams, especially the biggest one, organics. We thereby introduced Wastezon Smart Bin and started to pivot it with 5 Households and 10 farmers by testing it’s five core value offerings; automated opener, automated waste sorting, odor sterilization, waste decomposition, and Real-time data provision. We aim to regenerate and recycle over 10,000 tons of organic waste annually while impacting over 10 million African Households and 75 million African Smallholder farmers by 2030. 

In Africa, where 90% is not safely collected and recycled, most households still lack awareness of toxicity and pollution effects of improper waste management. By Introducing the Smart-Bin, we are helping the communities to safely dispose of their waste with automated waste sorting while, on the other hand generating organic fertilizers that tackle the fertilizer scarcity issues they face. In short, we are improving awareness of how they can potentially address waste issues while also creating waste value addition opportunities.

After my best friend survived a garbage landslide accident, I urgently took the initiative of spreading waste management awareness in Musanze, Northern Rwanda.  At 17, I organized and implemented the weeklong “Recycle for Environment” campaign in partnership with Tunza Eco-generation Samsung Engineering Initiative. Over 200 students in attendance were exposed to waste sorting methodologies and the importance of recycling. Along with three mentors, I provided the students with hands-on skills on how to recycle plastic bottles into creative products. After the campaign, I inducted them as eco-volunteers who, in turn, created a network of more than 250 volunteers who promoted the recycling awareness in their communities recycled 106 kg of plastic wastes.

The zeal and the passions of the students I got in the campaign, inspired me to think bigger and reimagine the future where the households would responsibly manage their waste and divert them from going to landfills or waterbodies.  I teamed up with other passionate co-founders. We launched Wastezon to explore different cutting-edge technologies that can help us to divert much waste as possible from going to landfills. No more garbage landslide accidents; we deserve a waste-free world.

Being personally connected to the issue and empathically feeling for my best friend who survived from garbage landslide accident, builds a long-standing passion for creating a waste-free world. Trough different environmental campaigns that I organized, including “Recycle for Environment”, I have developed a deep understanding of waste management issues that are present in Rwanda and Africa in general, which gave me insights on relevant solution approaches. Not only the garbage landslide accident fuels me with passion, but it also serves as a reminder in difficult situations that requires deep persistence. 

With over 4 years of experience in Waste Management, I have built strong skills and relevant networks to scale Wastezon operations. Before founding Wastezon, I have developed fundraising and project management skills by running the “Recycle for Environment” campaigns. I have also worked with the Mastercard Foundations as Youth Think Tank Researcher, where I developed Analytical business skills essential in 21st-century business management. As a current representative of Africa Circular Economy Network in Rwanda, I tap into the continental network of sustainability professionals for business consulting, networks with professionals, government officials, and policymakers.

My co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer, Jacqueline Mukarukundo, has over 4 years of experience in Marketing, Our Mechanical Lead, Bora Imani, has more than 6 years of experience in hardware mechanical engineering. Besides, our Software lead, Lionel Mpfizi, has over 6 Years of experience in IoT Based Software Development. On top of the combined 20 years of experience, the Wastezon team enjoys membership in continental networks, including the Africa Circular Economy Network that provides relevant networks and exposure.

When launching the Wastezon app, we faced the challenge of changing the community mindset. While many households used to mix their waste and to dump them in water bodies, they started to treat our business model and us as a traitor as it exposed their bad practices. In the first 3 months of the launching phase, we initially faced resistance from the community. Still, we learned a strategy of using the community influencers and community-tailored training in our marketing campaigns. In 4 months, we recorded over 30 tons of e-waste transactions, and we started to get referrals from the community members who initially opposed us.

Desperate and less experienced, I started doing Environmental Campaign, slowly leveraging on my network. In partnership with Tunza Eco-generation, I started the “Recycle for Environment Campaign” that moved from 12 to 200 participants who recycled over 100 tons of plastic waste into creatives in Rwanda. The results from the campaign inspired me to found Wastezon, a Rwandan-based company that provides waste technological infrastructures.

As a Youth Think Tank Researcher at the Mastercard Foundation, I have spent almost 1-year conducting research, collecting evidence, and documenting youth needs, challenges, and aspirations. This journey had exposed me to different critical challenges young people are facing, and their passion and dreams for the better world. Part of Youth Thinktank, I also co-initiated a youth-influencer project that leveraged on comic arts to disseminate the key research findings. The project has reached over 100,000 young people in Rwanda.
Moreover, I had also been contracted by European Union Directorate for Environment with other 2 Circular Experts in Africa Circular Economy Network to develop a thematic Country report on Circular Economy in Africa-EU Cooperation, Rwanda focus. The report explores the circular economy opportunities that lie in Rwanda.

The current system requires that the households openly dump or burn their waste in their household yards. Few recyclers involved in waste value addition, face inconvenience as the waste they collect are unsorted, which hinders their recycling activities. Our innovative product Wastezon Smart Bin brings the following unique value offerings:

Automated Sorting: the user doesn’t need to sort waste, the in-built sensors sort organic waste from plastics and other typical waste.
Touchless Automatic opening door: Prevent the user from direct contact with the smart bin hence ensuring maximum hygiene.
Decomposition: The Sorted organic waste is regulated with different temperature sensors to speed up the decomposition and provide high-quality compost.
 
Sterilization: To prevent the peculiar trash smell produced by waste overtime, the Smart bin's sterilizing deodorization system will reduce the smelling.
Real-time Information: Connected with the Mobile app, the users can request waste collection services based on Waste Smart bin real-time data delivered to their mobile app.
Recyclers-Household Matchmaking: Through Wastezon App, we connect Households/Restaurants with Recyclers, who can realize the potential in their Non-Biodegradable waste.

Vision: Leveraging Technology to create a waste-free world.
Mission: Connecting recycling actors with end-consumers for efficient waste traceability, Sorting, collection, and Waste Value addition.
Implementation Strategies: Distribute household Smart Bins that efficiently sort biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste, tracks waste decomposition, and provide matchmaking between end-consumers with Recyclers. Wastezon has 4 software engineers and 2 business managers and 4 employees who technically build the product and manage it.
Outputs: Wastezon leverages both human and financial resources to produce services such as waste traceability, Sorting. Collection and waste value addition.
Outcomes: Households or Products End-Users are able to get rid of their waste, while also recycling actors get the Waste, Which is their resources.
Impact: We Contribute to SDG 12 by keeping materials in use for a long-time while creating a waste-free world and contribute to SDG 13 and 11 by helping cities to overcome waste management issues that allow them to be clean, resilient, and sustainable. Besides, through waste value addition, we contribute to SDG 2, helping farmers to fight hunger by acquiring affordable organic fertilizers that boosts their harvest.  

We currently serve over 150 e-scrappers, 3 recycling Industries, 160 households that leveraged the Wastezon App to transact with over 416 tons of e-waste, which is equivalent to 2826.42 metric tons of avoided CO2 emissions. With Wastezon Smart Bin, We target to serve more than 50,000 Low and Middle-Income Households and More than 4 Million Smallholder farmers by 2025. Continentally, Wastezon targets more than 5 Million Low and Middle-Income Households and Over 75 million Smallholder farmers by 2030. Our overall desired impact is regenerate and recycle 10,000 tons of organic waste will be recycled (An equivalent of 6000 Co2 emissions), which otherwise would have ended up in water bodies and landfills.

14th January-1st December 2019: Launched Wastezon app that was used by 150 e-scrappers, 3 recycling Industries, 160 households to transact with each other over 416 tons of e-waste.

1st December -1st February 2020: We analyzed the feedback from our users and used their data to plan for the product Iteration, a “Smart Bin” that integrates with Wastezon App. 

1st February - 30th March 2020: We started the Product Design and developed 10 Smart bins to use in the prototyping phase in 6 Households and 4 Hotels/Institutions.

1st April- 30th May 2020: We conducted a prototyping phase with 6 Rwandan Households and 4 Hotels to test the functionality, business model, and user experience.

1st June- 30th 2020: We started an awareness program, which intends to encourage different stakeholders. 

1st July- 1st November 2020: We will develop 500-1000 Smart Bins. In this phase, the primary activities will include Smart-Bin Production. Marketing and Awareness Events.

2nd November 2020-1st April 2021: We will deploy 1000 Smart Bins in 800 Households in Kigali and 200 Restaurants. 

2nd April to 30 August 2021: We will manufacture the second batch of the Smart Bins (

develop more 2000-3000 Smart Bin to serve more 2500 Households and 500 Hotels/Schools.

1st September 2021 to 30th February 2022: Deploying 2000-3000 Smart Bin to serve more 2500 Households and 500 Hotels/Schools.

1st March to 1st September 2025: Preparing for expansion in Coastal areas (Mombasa, Dar-salaam that are highly affected by the Waste management issues. 

As hardware products (Smart Bins) require substantial investment to manufacture, we face a financial barrier in the accomplishment of our goals. We need to raise at least 300,000 USD to cover initial production costs, recruit more engineers, and finance our marketing activities. As the Waste management sector has limited investors present in, we will likely face a significant challenge of securing investment to cover our operations. We also need more Engineers with the required skill set and aren’t available locally, which becomes a great challenge to import more human resources.  Additionally, the waste value chain actors in Africa lack a collaboration framework, making the industry inefficient as there are no regulations that support the waste management business. Moreover, to adapt to the changing IoT Technology systems, we will need technical consultancy, which might be expensive. 

Regarding financial constraints, we seek to engage with impact investors who can provide not only investment but also relevant expertise that would help us to scale our operations and achieve impact. We will also explore other financial streams like grants that can complete the required amount of investment-300,000 USD.
To fill the gaps missing in our team, we will work with external agencies to recruit engineers who will facilitate the assembling of the Smart-bin. 30% of the investment will be used in recruitment and Salaries & wages. 
Even though the waste management value chain is not well developed in Africa, we aim to continually engage with different Recycling actors by establishing win-win partnerships in both supply chain and operations. 

Africa Circular Economy Network (ACEN): provides us with consultancy in environmental sustainability and business. 

Wastezon has 2 revenue streams; a 30% Leasing and 15% Commission fees that are charged each household subscribed to our services. A household will get a Wastezon Smart Bin that provides 20 kg of fertilizers monthly. The price of fertilizers is 250 Rwf or (0.26$). A Household will make 7500 Rwf from the 20 kg Fertilizers monthly that they will sell to Farmers. Wastezon will deduct household a 30% leasing fee (2500 Rwf or 2.5$) on the Smart-bin. Wastezon will also deduct a 15% commission fee (1125 Rwf or 1.20$) for connecting the households with their client (Farmers). In short Wastezon will provide Households with Smart Bins that efficiently sort the waste, decompose them waste in fertilizers and connect them with farmers or other recycling actors that can buy their waste. 

Using the Product leasing model,  we want to start with a sales volume of 1000 Smart Bins that will be served to 800 Households and 200 Institutions. We are projecting a 20% growth rate in the Sales Volume and produce more 3000 Smart Bins to serve an additional 2500 Households and 500 Hotels/Schools by 2021. We are planning to break even in 2024 with a net profit of 155,000 USD.  Our production and marketing costs will be covered by 300,000 investment raised as equity investment or a grant.

We have raised 5700 USD from the following organizations:

Tony Elumelu Foundation. 5000 USD Grant

Digital Opportunity Trust. 700 USD Grant

We are seeking 300,000 USD either as equity investment or a grant. 

120,000 USD. 

With Elevate Prize funding, We can produce over 3000 Smart Bins that will serve 2000 Households and 1000 Institutions. 3000 Smart bins will produce more than 10000 tons of compost that will benefit  over 1 million of farmers by 2025. 

The professional Management services would help us to develop both operation and marketing strategies that are essential in project scaling.  As a startup, we still need consultancy from experts who can refine our strategies basing on their real-world experience, helping us to achieve both impact and financial projections. 

The marketing campaign would be a cornerstone for us to create a community that is centered on our vision of creating a waste free world. We believe it would expose us to relevant partners that can contribute to our vision. 

Rubicorn; we seek to partners with them in Smart Bin development and other relevant waste management tools. 

Weginingen Food and Biobased Research Center: We seek to partner with them in developing African-tailored tools that recover food waste.