Press Release

| 09-07-2025

Goodwell and Alitheia invest in Hinckley E-Waste Recycling Ltd.

uMunthu II fund makes its first waste management investment in Nigeria 

LAGOS, NIGERIA | AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS, 9 July 2025Goodwell Investments and Alitheia Capital are pleased to announce their investment in Hinckley E-Waste Recycling Ltd. This impact-focused funding will enable the award-winning, Nigeria-based recycler to create a healthier environment, safer jobs, and improved livelihoods throughout its region of operations.

Goodwell and Alitheia invested in Hinckley through uMunthu II, a fund providing smart equity to early growth stage companies throughout Africa. The investment will be used to construct a lithium-ion battery recycling facility and a lead acid battery recycling facility. Both plants will be located in Nigeria’s Ogun State, with plans to collect and recycle up to 30,000 tonnes of e-waste per year and expand Hinckley’s export operations. uMunthu II’s investment marks Goodwell’s entry into the waste management sector, and the huge impact potential that comes with that industry.

A global problem with local solutions

Globally, the majority of collected e-waste isn’t yet disposed of responsibly, and only 22.3% is recycled. In sub-Saharan Africa, that number is even lower, with only an estimated 1% to 15% of generated e-waste being recycled. West Africa generates 750,000 tonnes of e-waste annually, and that figure projected to exceed one million tonnes by 2030. Nigeria accounts for 500,000 tonnes, making it the region’s largest e-waste producer and the third largest in Africa, after South Africa and Egypt.

The lack of proper waste management across the continent leads to land, soil, air and water pollution, as well as greenhouse gas emissions. Hundreds of thousands of informal waste collectors face hazardous conditions and health risks. Meanwhile, many industries are in desperate need of recycled materials to reduce their dependence on virgin-mined resources. The need for efficient, sustainable waste management is growing fast, as is the urgency for the private sector to contribute to sustainable solutions.

Hinckley E-Waste Recycling is one such endeavour. Sourcing much of the e-waste through a network of local collectors, Hinckley’s commitment to both social impact and environmental sustainability is central to the company’s ethos. Supplying the recycled material needs of clients like Samsung, HP, Lumos, and PZ Cuzzons, Hinckley has been named Best E-waste Recycling Company in Nigeria 2024 by both the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) and the Waste Management Society of Nigeria (WAMASON). Hinckley has also partnered with Carbon Trust and Energy 4 Impact supported by the IKEA Foundation and UK Aid via the Transforming Energy Access platform, to participate in the Ze-Gen (Zero Emission Generator) and productive-use-of-renewable-energy (PURE) programs, replacing diesel generators with second-life battery systems. Support from the UK Aid funded program, Manufacturing Africa, enabled a critical step towards Hinckley’s success, providing the company with transaction facilitation support led by Kemi Onabanjo and Yasmin Osaghae.

Practical plans for greater impact

For Hinckley, this is just the beginning of their impact. Adrian Clews, CEO of Hinckley E-Waste Recycling, said: “Although e-waste recycling is an emerging income stream for many people in Africa, it is still generally informal and unregulated. At Hinckley, we see that improving e-waste recycling infrastructure has the potential to decrease negative health and environmental outcomes, while increasing average incomes for over 100,000 Nigerians currently working as informal waste collectors. This investment will help further our mission of environmental stewardship and livelihood improvement, from formalising e-waste collection to constructing recycling plants that meet international industry standards. Our objective is to effectively manage the increasing volume of complex e-waste across Nigeria in a safe and sound manner.”

 

“Our investment in Hinckley is based on a compelling business case, anchored on the growing importance of e-waste recycling,” observed Doubra Eghaghe of Alitheia Capital. “Increased production of electric vehicles and adoption of renewable energy is driving demand for batteries and the resources required to manufacture them, while also contributing to the issue of e-waste. Recycling and repurposing the core materials found in batteries is crucial to sustainably meeting this growing demand. Hinckley’s potential to create meaningful social and environmental impact reflects the core ambitions of the uMunthu II fund. We are excited for the opportunity to work together in strengthening, scaling, and literally building Hinckley’s vision for a cleaner, more inclusive future.”

 

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For additional information and interview requests, please contact:  

Liz Keel, Marketing Communications Manager at Goodwell

liz@goodwell.nl

About Goodwell Investments 

Goodwell Investments is a pioneering impact investment firm focused on inclusive growth in sectors providing basic goods and services and income generation opportunities to underserved communities in Africa and India. The firm provides early-stage equity to high-growth, high-impact businesses. With teams in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and the Netherlands, and a track record of over twenty years, Goodwell demonstrates the ability to simultaneously deliver significant social impact and strong financial returns. Since 2009, Goodwell has partnered with Alitheia Capital to identify and manage investments in West Africa, including uMunthu II – Goodwell’s latest fund.

Learn more at www.goodwell.nl

About Alitheia Capital

Established in 2007, Alitheia Capital stands as a trailblazing impact investing private equity and financial advisory firm headquartered in Lagos State, Nigeria. Since its inaugural fund launch in 2009, it has grown to manage over $250 million in assets spread across various funds.

Alitheia Capital specialises in identifying and investing in high-potential businesses throughout Africa. Its investment philosophy revolves around the concept of “true profit with a purpose,” whereby deploying private capital into SMEs that not only generate financial returns but also address critical business, social, or environmental needs within their communities.

Learn more at https://thealitheia.com/

About Hinckley E-Waste Recycling

Hinckley E-waste Recycling Ltd. is a socially responsible recycler of e-waste in Nigeria. The company’s mission is to reduce environmental degradation caused by informal recycling of electronics and safeguard those affected by e-waste pollution. Hinckley was the first government approved e-waste recycler in Nigeria, permitted by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency of Nigeria (NESREA), Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and a member of the Ewaste Producer Responsibility Organisation of Nigeria (EPRON) and the Alliance for Responsible Battery Recycling (ARBR).

Learn more at https://hinckley-recycling.com/