{"title": "Africycle", "logoImg": "bafkreicgrdfwocqyzevusiqifgeh7nwy2xz4mouqsh6xe55fydp32puxa4", "website": "https://github.com/Kanasjnr/Africycle", "bannerImg": "bafkreieennuehe7ubxk6t5zanny3ttcefjx42ynkawpbaccvc2xxpqtfgy", "createdAt": 1742394937520, "userGithub": "Kanasjnr", "credentials": {}, "description": "# **AfriCycle: A Multi-Stream ReFi Waste Management Ecosystem**\n\n## **Summary**  \nAfriCycle is a blockchain-powered circular economy platform built on the Celo blockchain, designed to tackle Africa's waste management crisis. The platform addresses three major waste streams: plastic, electronic waste (e-waste), and metal/general waste. AfriCycle incentivizes waste collection through tokenized rewards, ensures transparent recycling processes, and promotes corporate sustainability through verified recycling credits. By connecting informal waste collectors directly with recycling facilities and corporate partners, AfriCycle creates economic opportunities while solving environmental challenges.\n---\n## **Project Overview**  \nAfriCycle represents a transformative shift in Africa’s waste management landscape, using Regenerative Finance (ReFi) principles to turn environmental challenges into economic opportunities. The platform benefits multiple stakeholders and creates a sustainable ecosystem for waste management across Africa.\n\n### **Key Stakeholders**  \n- **Waste Collectors**: Informal workers gaining financial inclusion and fair compensation \n- **Recycling Facilities**: Partners who receive*consistent, verified waste streams \n- **Corporations**: Entities seeking verifiable sustainability credits and recycled materials \n- **Local Communities**: Beneficiaries of cleaner environment and economic development\n---\n## **Problem Statement**  \n\n### **Environmental Crisis**\nAfrica generates 17 million tons of plastic waste annually, and the continent hosts the world's largest e-waste dumping grounds. Despite this, only 4% of waste is recycled, and informal waste collection remains unstandardized and unverified.\n\n- **Plastic waste**: 17 million tons annually  \n- **E-waste**: Over 2.9 million tons annually  \n- **Recycling rate**: Only 4% of waste is recycled  \n\n### **Economic Challenges**   \n- **Uncontrolled Dumpsites**: Over 90% of waste is disposed of in unmanaged landfills  \n- **Low Earnings for Waste Collectors**: Informal workers earn less than $2/day despite their essential role  \n- **Financial Exclusion**: 57% of Africa’s populationlacks access to formal financial systems, limiting economic opportunities\n\n### **Technological Gaps**   \n- Limited traceability in waste management  \n- Lack of verification for recycling claims  \n- Inefficient payment systems for informal collectors  \n- Disconnected stakeholders across the waste value chain\n---\n## **Solution: AfriCycle’s Innovation**  \n\nAfriCycle combines blockchain technology and Regenerative Finance (ReFi) principles to create a transparent, efficient, and scalable waste management ecosystem. Here's how AfriCycle solves the problem:\n\n### **Key Features & Benefits**\n\n- **Tokenized Incentives for Collectors**:  \n  Waste collectors earn stable coin (cUSD) rewards for every verified waste collection, promoting financial inclusion and fair compensation.\n\n- **Blockchain-Verified Recycling**:  \n  Every waste collection and recycling activity is tracked and verified on the blockchain, providing full transparency and eliminating fraud in the recycling process.\n\n- **Sustainability for Corporations**:  \n  AfriCycle provides businesses with verified recycling credits that help them meet sustainability goals and earn carbon offset credits, improving their green credentials.\n\n- **Streamlined Supply Chain**:  \n  By connecting waste collectors, recycling facilities, and corporations, AfriCycle creates an efficient and transparent supply chain, reducing inefficiencies and fostering a circular economy.\n\n- **Environmental Impact**:  \n  AfriCycle helps reduce waste in landfills, mitigates pollution, and ensures proper recycling, contributing to healthier, cleaner environments across Africa.\n---\n## **Conclusion**  \nAfriCycle is a holistic solution to Africa’s waste management challenges. By integrating blockchain technology with financial incentives and circular economy principles, AfriCycle offers a scalable, sustainable solution that has the potential to disrupt the waste management industry. With a focus on transparency, verification, and financial inclusion, AfriCycle is poised to create long-term environmental, social, and economic value across Africa.\n\n", "logoImgData": {}, "bannerImgData": {}}