Tech-Driven Waste Management Initiatives

The Splendour Empowerment Foundation (SEF), a Nigerian NGO (non-governmental organization), has announced a new pilot program that utilizes mobile apps and digital ledgers to convert plastic waste into economic value in local communities. The foundation’s initiative introduces a tech-driven approach to grassroots waste management: residents use a smartphone platform to log the type and amount of plastic they collect, which is then aggregated and tracked in real time. This data transparency (secured on a digital ledger) builds trust for sponsors and prevents greenwashing by verifying actual recycling activity.

SEF’s program also trains locals in waste sorting and recycling techniques, and monetizes the process by selling recycled materials and generating plastic credits that can fund the community. By empowering households to participate directly, the model addresses Nigeria’s significant plastic pollution challenge (estimated at 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually) while creating local jobs and cleaner neighborhoods. The foundation aims to scale this initiative nationally through partnerships with government and private sector stakeholders.