Bringing electricity to remote areas with SparkMeter
Based in Nigeria, Hinckley E-Waste Recycling Ltd. is transforming the country’s approach to managing e-waste. Their collection and recycling programs address urgent waste management issues, while also contributing to a healthier environment, safer jobs, and improved livelihoods.
Energy
Impact Indicators
591
Tons of e-waste recycled
4
Collection centres
22
Informal trained collectors and PPE donated
Formalising electronic waste recycling in West Africa
Worldwide, most e-waste is still not properly disposed of, and only 22.3% is recycled. In sub-Saharan Africa, that number is far lower, with only an estimated 1% to 15% of generated e-waste being recycled. Hinkley E-Waste Recycling is working to address the issue of e-waste, starting in West Africa. As the first officially registered e-waste recycler in Nigeria, they are contributing to the circular economy, improving incomes for waste collectors, and reducing pollution levels.
Why Goodwell invested
Waste management is one of the high-impact sectors Goodwell is focusing on with our uMunthu II fund, and Hinckley is our first investment in this sector. The company has a very compelling business case: they are addressing the growing e-waste problem, extracting and repurposing the in-demand resources that can be used in new products, and creating meaningful social and environmental outcomes in the communities where they operate in Nigeria.
Recent achievements and future ambitions
Hinckley’s vision is directly contributing to a cleaner, more inclusive future. Already partnering with major manufacturers Samsung, HP, Lumos, and PZ Cuzzons to support their recycling programs and meet their recycled material needs, in the coming years Hinckley will focus on expanding their operations and scaling their e-waste processing capabilities. Their short-term priorities include expanding the number of e-waste collection points and constructing a lithium-ion battery recycling facility and a lead acid battery recycling facility, with the aim of recycling up to 30,000 tonnes of e-waste per year.
“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.”
Adrian Clews - Managing Director Hinckley