This space serves to highlight and catalogue projects or entrepreneurial activities around waste management led by MIT students or alumni.
Action-Oriented
Description
Wecyclers is Pioneer Nigerian Company with a functional and scalable recycling model that will reduce unmanaged urban waste in low-income neighborhoods and provide a reliable supply of materials to the recycling industry. We empower low-income communities to clean up their environment by providing convenient recycling services paired with a recycling rewards program.
Wecyclers collects recyclable waste, including plastic bottles, plastic bags, and aluminum cans, at the household level using low-cost bicycle-powered collection vehicles which are designed and manufactured locally. We recruit wecycle operators to cover specific neighborhood collection routes and collect material from households.
Wecyclers rewards households with redeemable points based on the volume and quality of recyclables that they give us. As households accumulate points over time, they can redeem their points for specific rewards like money, basic household items e.t.c making the benefits of recycling tangible.
Personnel
Wecyclers is Pioneer Nigerian Company with a functional and scalable recycling model that will reduce unmanaged urban waste in low-income neighborhoods and provide a reliable supply of materials to the recycling industry. We empower low-income communities to clean up their environment by providing convenient recycling services paired with a recycling rewards program.
Wecyclers collects recyclable waste, including plastic bottles, plastic bags, and aluminum cans, at the household level using low-cost bicycle-powered collection vehicles which are designed and manufactured locally. We recruit wecycle operators to cover specific neighborhood collection routes and collect material from households.
Wecyclers rewards households with redeemable points based on the volume and quality of recyclables that they give us. As households accumulate points over time, they can redeem their points for specific rewards like money, basic household items e.t.c making the benefits of recycling tangible.
Personnel
Bilikiss Adebiyi, CEO
Has an MBA from MIT Sloan, an MS in Computer Science from Vanderbilt University, and a BS in Computer Science from Fisk University. She brings five years of technology and management experience from IBM Corporation as a software engineer where she developed essential social networking software that serves thousands of users at Fortune 500 companies. Bilikiss is based in Lagos full-time. Efosa Ojomo, CFO Worked as an engineer for National Instruments, a tech company for eight years. While working fulltime, he started the nonprofit, Poverty Stops Here. He is equally passionate about using business as a sustainable vehicle to impact people’s lives financially and socially. Efosa is currently a second year student at Harvard Business School and will join the Wecyclers team fulltime upon graduation. Degrees: MBA, Harvard (expected 2015), B.Engr, Vanderbilt University. |
Onwumere Kelechi, (Assistant Operations Manager)
Has a BSc in Petroleum Engineering from Covenant University, She has always had a passion for a clean and safe environment. She brings a technical experience from working closely with experts at NNPC and this serves in dealing with the everyday technical matters that arise on the job. Akeju Ayodeji Bola (HSE Officer) Has a BSc in Fisheries and Environmental Management from the University of Ado-Ekiti Nigeria, an MSc in Energy and Environmental Management from Glasgow Caledonian University. Bola is a Certified HSE Supervisor (Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON). He is passionate about sustaining and building the adaptive capabilities of the most environmentally vulnerable in Nigeria and by extension Africa. |
Description
SmartMenu.Guru is a web-based platform that provides optimized ingredients and recipe suggestions to people, so that they can plan their home-cooked meals and grocery shopping to minimize leftover ingredients. Retailers will be able to use the platform to drive sales of entire grocery lists of complementary ingredients or expiring products. This will lead to better management of food demand and reduce food waste, which will provide benefits at the individual, retailer and supply chain levels.
Personnel
SmartMenu.Guru is a web-based platform that provides optimized ingredients and recipe suggestions to people, so that they can plan their home-cooked meals and grocery shopping to minimize leftover ingredients. Retailers will be able to use the platform to drive sales of entire grocery lists of complementary ingredients or expiring products. This will lead to better management of food demand and reduce food waste, which will provide benefits at the individual, retailer and supply chain levels.
Personnel
Cive is a Former Treasurer of one of the biggest construction companies in Brazil, Lucas Headed the treasury, IR and Structured Finance departments of this major E&C Company. Provided financial solutions / advisory throughout Structure Finance for Clients in Latin America, Africa and US.
Emiliano has more than 15 years of experience in public, private and civil society, leading teams from 4 to 150 people to plan, apply and improve sustainability in business. Trough the vision of business opportunities in sustainability and achieving strong results for big and important organizations such as BASF, Banco do Brasil, SEBRAE and UN (FAO, UNESCO, UNDP). Emiliano will lead the sustainability and the relationship with the local community in Brazil. |
Fernando is from the advertising industry. He built and managed digital operations for multinational groups such as Grey, WPP and Razorfish in Brazil and Latin America. He is using his experience of creating and managing innovation and digital teams.
Chin Lum is from the public sector in Singapore, and has policy experience in areas of finance, social sector and strategic planning. He has a quantitative background and will be leading the conceptualization of the optimization processes. |
Description
Takachar is a waste-to-charcoal dissemination collaboration that transforms unmanaged organic waste into clean, affordable, and environmentally friendly household cooking fuel in Kenya.
In Kenya, charcoal is a popular cooking fuel, which contributes to environmental degradation and household energy poverty. At the same time, much of the organic disposables are either left to rot (releasing methane, a potent greenhouse gas) or set on fire (creating environmental/health hazards). By converting unmanaged organic waste into charcoal briquettes, this addresses the greenhouse emissions from both unmanaged decomposing waste, as well as from the prevention of deforestation by replacing wood charcoal.
Our small-scale charcoal production process has been in development at MIT D-Lab since 2002. The kilns cost US$30 (2500 Ksh) and have a maximum output of 30 kg/day of charcoal. The conversion efficiency from dry organic waste is currently 25% by mass. It is easy to gradually scale up the operation by sequentially purchasing multiple kilns. We are improving the charcoal-making and feedstock-drying process as well as the efficiency of the kiln (as an ongoing doctoral research project). In the short term, Takachar is setting up and supporting joint ventureships in Kenya together with local micro-entrepreneurs. Two such joint ventures are being run in Mwea and Meru, and we are currently testing whether or not these operations are financially profitable.
Takachar is a waste-to-charcoal dissemination collaboration that transforms unmanaged organic waste into clean, affordable, and environmentally friendly household cooking fuel in Kenya.
In Kenya, charcoal is a popular cooking fuel, which contributes to environmental degradation and household energy poverty. At the same time, much of the organic disposables are either left to rot (releasing methane, a potent greenhouse gas) or set on fire (creating environmental/health hazards). By converting unmanaged organic waste into charcoal briquettes, this addresses the greenhouse emissions from both unmanaged decomposing waste, as well as from the prevention of deforestation by replacing wood charcoal.
Our small-scale charcoal production process has been in development at MIT D-Lab since 2002. The kilns cost US$30 (2500 Ksh) and have a maximum output of 30 kg/day of charcoal. The conversion efficiency from dry organic waste is currently 25% by mass. It is easy to gradually scale up the operation by sequentially purchasing multiple kilns. We are improving the charcoal-making and feedstock-drying process as well as the efficiency of the kiln (as an ongoing doctoral research project). In the short term, Takachar is setting up and supporting joint ventureships in Kenya together with local micro-entrepreneurs. Two such joint ventures are being run in Mwea and Meru, and we are currently testing whether or not these operations are financially profitable.
Personnel
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Publications
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Samuel Rigu is an environmental conscious agribusiness manager, with a BSc. In Agribusiness management from The University of Nairobi Kenya. He has worked as a farm manager in the Turning Point Trust farm, turning the farm to a self sustaining farm in six months. Samuel continues to progress his passion for achieving results in agribusiness management and environment conservation.
Steve Kariithi has over ten years experience in the community development sector working in a variety of roles and organizations, including a community-based organization that uses education, business, and prayer as tools to empower families and transform communities. He holds a B.A. in Community Development from Daystar University. Kevin Kung is a doctoral candidate at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with a research focus on low-cost pyrolysis and torrefaction processes for organic waste management. He has had seven years of project implementation experience in the developing world, including Vietnam, Uganda, and Ghana. |
Outcomes from the 2013 Green Charcoal Production Workshop
Low-cost charcoal production of charcoal briquettes from organic waste Briquette industry in Uganda |
Description
Waste-Free Myanmar is a waste foundation to be located in Kyaukme, Myanmar. Waste is a huge problem in Myanmar, with many health repercussions. This foundation would provide a focused effort on this issue to eradicate waste to a wide extent. A connection to a global and local network would allow for the exploration of various solution models. Some of its visions include educational campaigns against waste, an organized recycling collection system, accessibility to alternative energy sources, high-yield organic farming methods and land protection, anti-river-littering campaigns, and the replacement of disposable plastic bags.
Personnel
Reese Caliman first became interested in international development after a trip to Myanmar the year before coming to MIT. At MIT, she founded two projects on waste management in Myanmar, LINC Myanmar and Waste-Free Myanmar, with the support of iHouse, her living-learning community focused on international development. She is very passionate about sustainability and is active in many sustainability roles on campus, including Conservation Chair of New House, member of the UA Sustainability Committee, and founder of the Cross-Dorm Conservation Committee. Currently she studies Urban Planning at MIT. She also enjoys traveling, learning foreign languages, and spending time outdoors.
Waste-Free Myanmar is a waste foundation to be located in Kyaukme, Myanmar. Waste is a huge problem in Myanmar, with many health repercussions. This foundation would provide a focused effort on this issue to eradicate waste to a wide extent. A connection to a global and local network would allow for the exploration of various solution models. Some of its visions include educational campaigns against waste, an organized recycling collection system, accessibility to alternative energy sources, high-yield organic farming methods and land protection, anti-river-littering campaigns, and the replacement of disposable plastic bags.
Personnel
Reese Caliman first became interested in international development after a trip to Myanmar the year before coming to MIT. At MIT, she founded two projects on waste management in Myanmar, LINC Myanmar and Waste-Free Myanmar, with the support of iHouse, her living-learning community focused on international development. She is very passionate about sustainability and is active in many sustainability roles on campus, including Conservation Chair of New House, member of the UA Sustainability Committee, and founder of the Cross-Dorm Conservation Committee. Currently she studies Urban Planning at MIT. She also enjoys traveling, learning foreign languages, and spending time outdoors.
Central America Micro Grid (CAM)
Location: El Salvador
Location: El Salvador
Description
CAM will develop and deploy microgrid energy systems in remote agricultural communities in the four Central American nations of El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. Combining anaerobic digestors, wood gasifiers, micro-CHP (Combined Heat and Power) generators, energy storage technologies and end-use infrastructure, CAM will partner with established Latin American micro-finance entities to provide useful equipment to the base of the pyramid, creating value for small farmers through waste management and production of renewable fuel and organic fertilizer.
Personnel
Tristan Jackson's professional experience to date has been in education, team leadership, and sustainable community development on the island of Vinalhaven, Maine. In that location he has established a non-profit organization specializing in hands-on education for all ages, promotion of innovation enterprise to diversify the economy of Vinalhaven, and support local farmers. His undergraduate education was in psychology and sociology at Cornell University, previous to which he home schooled on a small, undeveloped island off the coast of Maine.
CAM will develop and deploy microgrid energy systems in remote agricultural communities in the four Central American nations of El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. Combining anaerobic digestors, wood gasifiers, micro-CHP (Combined Heat and Power) generators, energy storage technologies and end-use infrastructure, CAM will partner with established Latin American micro-finance entities to provide useful equipment to the base of the pyramid, creating value for small farmers through waste management and production of renewable fuel and organic fertilizer.
Personnel
Tristan Jackson's professional experience to date has been in education, team leadership, and sustainable community development on the island of Vinalhaven, Maine. In that location he has established a non-profit organization specializing in hands-on education for all ages, promotion of innovation enterprise to diversify the economy of Vinalhaven, and support local farmers. His undergraduate education was in psychology and sociology at Cornell University, previous to which he home schooled on a small, undeveloped island off the coast of Maine.
Description
Some stats say that only about 25% have reliable electricity in Nigeria and current attempts to close the power gap include the use of diesel powered generators, which increase businesses’ operating expenses by about 20%. NovaGen Power will provide a more reliable and cost-effective electric power supply using biogas. With at least two Nigerian cities recently featured on 25 dirtiest cities in the world, NovaGen Power will help improve lives while powering innovation.
Personnel
Growing up in Nigeria, Adeyemi Adepetu was exposed to family and friends who persevered against all odds to establish businesses that contributed to the economy. This, coupled with the great potential he sees in emerging markets, has influenced his desire to take a part in impacting the renewable energy and environmental issues in Nigeria. Before coming to MIT, he worked as a Systems Engineer designing embedded controls for appliances. Adeyemi is currently a System Design and Management fellow at MIT. His professional background is in Control Systems, with a B.Sc. in Computer Engineering from Purdue and a Master’s degree in Computer and Electrical Engineering also from Purdue.
Some stats say that only about 25% have reliable electricity in Nigeria and current attempts to close the power gap include the use of diesel powered generators, which increase businesses’ operating expenses by about 20%. NovaGen Power will provide a more reliable and cost-effective electric power supply using biogas. With at least two Nigerian cities recently featured on 25 dirtiest cities in the world, NovaGen Power will help improve lives while powering innovation.
Personnel
Growing up in Nigeria, Adeyemi Adepetu was exposed to family and friends who persevered against all odds to establish businesses that contributed to the economy. This, coupled with the great potential he sees in emerging markets, has influenced his desire to take a part in impacting the renewable energy and environmental issues in Nigeria. Before coming to MIT, he worked as a Systems Engineer designing embedded controls for appliances. Adeyemi is currently a System Design and Management fellow at MIT. His professional background is in Control Systems, with a B.Sc. in Computer Engineering from Purdue and a Master’s degree in Computer and Electrical Engineering also from Purdue.
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Poop Power
Location: Nigeria
Description
Alex Wright is a first-year MBA student at MIT. Before coming to Sloan, she worked at smart grid company EnerNOC, in both the Demand Response and Energy Efficiency groups. She is currently working on a startup idea that aims to get more mid-size cattle farms (100-500 cattle) to have biodigesters. She is focusing on the U.S., and plans to create an easy user experience for farmers and mimic the financing methods from the solar industry, to make biodigesters more accessible for mid-size cattle farms.
Location: Nigeria
Description
Alex Wright is a first-year MBA student at MIT. Before coming to Sloan, she worked at smart grid company EnerNOC, in both the Demand Response and Energy Efficiency groups. She is currently working on a startup idea that aims to get more mid-size cattle farms (100-500 cattle) to have biodigesters. She is focusing on the U.S., and plans to create an easy user experience for farmers and mimic the financing methods from the solar industry, to make biodigesters more accessible for mid-size cattle farms.
SAPMOR
Location: Moroco
Location: Moroco
Description
The mission of SAPMOR is to develop innovative ways to provide Morocco’s rural population with the means to tap into its tremendous reserve of unexploited biogas energy, producing it in a decentralized manner using only domestic and agricultural waste. Anass envisions SAPMOR not just as a simple technology supplier but also as a socioeconomic actor involved in these villagers’ investments through providing tailored financial innovations combining micro-loans and risk sharing mechanisms.
Personnel
Anass Afilal was born and raised in Oujda, Morocco. For several years, Anass has been very active within several Moroccan NGOs. His experience with ASPE (Association de Solidarité et de Protection de l’Environnement), a non-profit organization based in the Rif of Morocco marked his first encounter with rural Morocco and triggered his entrepreneurial ambitions. It was through this experience that he came to realize that the government can only do so much. There is an urgent need for young Moroccans to take action through entrepreneurship.
Anass’ professional experience includes internships within the financial structuring team at HSBC Dubai, and at the World Bank headquarters. After passing the Baccalaureate, Anass moved to France to prepare for the entrance exams for the Ecole Polytechnique to which he was admitted in 2010. Throughout his years at Polytechnique, he deepened his scientific background, specializing in quantitative economics and acquiring basic knowledge in other fields such as biology and quantum physics. Anass is now a Master of Finance candidate at the Sloan School of Management.
The mission of SAPMOR is to develop innovative ways to provide Morocco’s rural population with the means to tap into its tremendous reserve of unexploited biogas energy, producing it in a decentralized manner using only domestic and agricultural waste. Anass envisions SAPMOR not just as a simple technology supplier but also as a socioeconomic actor involved in these villagers’ investments through providing tailored financial innovations combining micro-loans and risk sharing mechanisms.
Personnel
Anass Afilal was born and raised in Oujda, Morocco. For several years, Anass has been very active within several Moroccan NGOs. His experience with ASPE (Association de Solidarité et de Protection de l’Environnement), a non-profit organization based in the Rif of Morocco marked his first encounter with rural Morocco and triggered his entrepreneurial ambitions. It was through this experience that he came to realize that the government can only do so much. There is an urgent need for young Moroccans to take action through entrepreneurship.
Anass’ professional experience includes internships within the financial structuring team at HSBC Dubai, and at the World Bank headquarters. After passing the Baccalaureate, Anass moved to France to prepare for the entrance exams for the Ecole Polytechnique to which he was admitted in 2010. Throughout his years at Polytechnique, he deepened his scientific background, specializing in quantitative economics and acquiring basic knowledge in other fields such as biology and quantum physics. Anass is now a Master of Finance candidate at the Sloan School of Management.
Description
Loci Controls develops monitoring and control technologies for the clean energy sector. They are initially applying their technology to the landfill gas to energy process. Their flagship device, dubbed the WellWatcher, is capable of monitoring landfill gas for the following: CH4, CO2, and O2 as well as flow rate, temperature and pressure. Wireless capabilities allow all data to be viewed in real-time, leading to an unprecedented level of information and control of the landfill gas collection system. Using their technology and industry expertise, they are able to significantly increase revenues from the LFG extraction process. Other benefits include the ability to: detect and quickly address odor complaints; mitigate risks related to noncompliance; and set tailored alerts making maintenance and other issues easy to identify and troubleshoot.
Personnel
Andrew Campanella, Melinda Sims, Ian Martin, Nathan Pallo, and Shaun Bamforth..
Loci Controls develops monitoring and control technologies for the clean energy sector. They are initially applying their technology to the landfill gas to energy process. Their flagship device, dubbed the WellWatcher, is capable of monitoring landfill gas for the following: CH4, CO2, and O2 as well as flow rate, temperature and pressure. Wireless capabilities allow all data to be viewed in real-time, leading to an unprecedented level of information and control of the landfill gas collection system. Using their technology and industry expertise, they are able to significantly increase revenues from the LFG extraction process. Other benefits include the ability to: detect and quickly address odor complaints; mitigate risks related to noncompliance; and set tailored alerts making maintenance and other issues easy to identify and troubleshoot.
Personnel
Andrew Campanella, Melinda Sims, Ian Martin, Nathan Pallo, and Shaun Bamforth..
Research
Forage Tracking
Location: Sao Paulo and Recife, Brazil
Website: http://senseable.mit.edu/foragetracking/
Location: Sao Paulo and Recife, Brazil
Website: http://senseable.mit.edu/foragetracking/
Description
As cooperatives grow to serve multiple clients spread across cities, they face constraints of time and space. Congestion and miscommunication can result in wasted trips or missed opportunities. We developed simple phone-based applications to help cooperatives track their vehicles in real-time, update routes, and log sensitive materials like electronic or chemical waste. Informal recyclers can use these location data to further optimize their own operations, and streamline documentation of their material flows to local governments.
Personnel
David Lee is a PhD candidate in Urban Studies and Planning at MIT. He also works as a researcher for the Senseable City Lab.
Dietmar Offenhuber is an Assistant Professor in Art + Design and Public Policy (dual appointment) at Northeastern University.
As cooperatives grow to serve multiple clients spread across cities, they face constraints of time and space. Congestion and miscommunication can result in wasted trips or missed opportunities. We developed simple phone-based applications to help cooperatives track their vehicles in real-time, update routes, and log sensitive materials like electronic or chemical waste. Informal recyclers can use these location data to further optimize their own operations, and streamline documentation of their material flows to local governments.
Personnel
David Lee is a PhD candidate in Urban Studies and Planning at MIT. He also works as a researcher for the Senseable City Lab.
Dietmar Offenhuber is an Assistant Professor in Art + Design and Public Policy (dual appointment) at Northeastern University.