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Bin to Cash: Turning Plastic Waste into Livelihoods

"We believe waste can create wealth — and our journey proves it."

The Problem We Couldn't Ignore

Plastic waste is everywhere in Ghana — choking drains, polluting communities, and creating health risks. But most of it never gets recycled. Why?

  • Lack of sorting at source
  • Few incentives to collect or recycle
  • No connection between waste creators and recyclers

Only 10% of Ghana’s plastic waste is recycled — the rest ends up in landfills or the ocean.

Our Journey: From Frustration to Innovation

We started by listening: talking to households, collectors, recyclers, and local authorities. What we learned shaped every step.

Phase 1: Understanding the Landscape

  • Visited one community
  • Observed informal waste collection
  • Interviewed 20 recyclers

Phase 2: What isn't Working

  • There isn't an efficient means to connect the stakeholders in the system
  • Current systems doesn't have a lot of waste creators on board

Phase 3: The Breakthrough

We realized we needed a simple, trackable system with instant incentives for: - Proper sorting - Timely pickup - Verified recycling

The Solution: Bin to Cash MVP

Bin to Cash is a digital platform that connects: - Households who sort plastic waste

Collectors who pick it up (electric bikes in future) - Recyclers who pay per kg

How It Works

Sort → Collect → Verify → Pay

  • Households sort and log waste in the app

  • Collectors confirm and weigh pickup

  • Verified data triggers instant mobile rewards

  • Recyclers receive sorted plastic on demand