Problem Statement

Waste management constitutes one of the greatest challenges in most African cities. The city of Lagos

and other major urban areas in Nigeria are facing the same challenge and urgently needs an efficient,

effective and sustainable solution. The Waste management agencies are unable to provide a lasting

solution due to over burdened waste management infrastructures.

While the waste management agencies, environmentally conscious individuals and corporate bodies

have tried different approaches to handle this problem, it persists and keeps getting worst by the day due

to the aforementioned inefficiencies and other contributing factors such as the absence or lack of

technological resources and innovative approach to waste management, increasing population in most

urban areas in Nigeria which directly translates to more generation of these wastes, inadequate

orientation/education on right waste disposal practice for the citizens.

Furthermore the present waste management solution used by the Waste Management Agencies such as

landfills and incineration are not sustainable. These methods pose a great health risks on people especially

those in marginalized communities who live in the inner cities and outskirts where dumpsites/landfills are

located, and scavenge for recyclable materials (plastics, tin, and aluminum cans which they sell for very

meager income), are most affected by this environmental degradation/pollution.

Eco-Care Proposed Solution

We indentified enormous opportunities in the problems stated above and decided to harness them using
Information technology, by developing an innovative mobile and desktop application called “BIN-GO”
which is the key tool to drive every aspect of our proposed solutions. Bin-Go App enables seamless
communication between customers, waste management authorities, scavengers and waste merchants who
want to buy recyclable materials such as post consumer waste plastic, aluminum/tin cans and other
recyclables. Bin-Go App also enables efficient and effective waste monitoring, sorting and gathering,
collection and waste bill payment through a secured online payment system which will enhance
transparences and eliminate revenue loss.
Our proposed solution aims for impact on three levels of sustainability; social, environmental and
economic.

• Socially Bin-Go is a platform that engenders social inclusion; It empowers and enables the marginalize scavengers who sign up on the platform to be recognized as a formalized, organized workforce that contributes to the environmental cleanliness of the cities/urban areas where ourservices are deployed. Other benefits of being signed on Bin-Go as a scavenger (or recycle marshal as we prefer to call them) includes access to free health care check-ups and advice from our partnering medical professionals, provision of recovery carts and uniforms, mobile phonewith pre installed Bin-Go App, training and personal development seminars, financial advices and a mutual trust fund etc.
• Environmentally Bin-Go enables efficient and effective waste management practice; Bin-Go
  users are able to monitor their waste, schedule pick up time and days. They are also educated on
  the importance and benefits of right waste disposal practice and how they can turn their waste
  stream into a source of income through our recycling programs, which helps to reduce the waste
  ending up on landfills/dumpsite and also tackle the problem of post consumer waste plastics and
  cans from the points from generation.
• Economically Bin-Go is E-Commerce enabled; Online activities/transactions such as bill payment
  to waste management authorities/companies, the opportunity for customers to make an income by
  selling their recyclable wastes to scavengers and waste merchant enlisted on the platform, who
  also benefit economically by having a wider reach and access to plentiful recyclables directly
  from it source of generation.

Goals

Our main vision and goal for Bin-Go App is that it becomes an institutionalized system/technology for
efficient and effective waste management in Nigeria, Africa, and other Countries through a long term
partnership with Waste Management Authorities. By 2018 we hope to be well established and operational
in all the major cities/urban areas in Nigeria, and lunching out into other West African Cities; Accra,
Abidjan, Dakar, Freetown. The funding for this expansion would be sourced from income accrued from a
two percent (2%) commission on any bill payment made by customers using Bin-Go. From our
projections we will be financially capable to fund other projects without requiring a bank loan or any
other external funding in the second year if all plans progress as anticipated.

After an official lunch and deployment of Bin-Go next year (March 2017) Our main goal for the next
six month/one year, is to get massive sign up and consistent usage/traffic on the platform by the four
key users; Customers, Waste Management Authorities/Companies, Scavengers and Waste Merchants.

The Fund will be spent on acquiring resources, tools and equipments required for successful implementation and achievement of our Goals, Mission and Vision for Eco-Care Organization and Bin-Go App. Listed below are some of the key aspects of the project that the fund will be allocated to.

1. Computers and Related Equipments =2000 pounds
2. Licence and Patent = 2000 pounds
3. Marketing and Advertisement = 3000 pounds
4. Training for  waste Authorities, Scavengers/Waste Merchants = 2000 pounds
5. Transportation and Miscellanous = 1000pounds

Excess funding will be allocated to Eco-Care Organization's Compost Plastic Timber Project.

Thanks in advance to ever single person who funds this project.

We will exceed your expectations and make you proud.

Best,

Alex-Okolie Victor

COO

Eco-Care Org

The major challenge has been funding. Due to the economic recession most banks are not giving out loans to start up companies. The banks that are willing to provide loans are not "start up friendly" because of thier interest rates (25%) which does not make economic sense for us as a startup.

The second challenge which we have faced is the lengthy bureaucractic process to get the company registered and process all legal documents which will allows us operate without any government interference.

Another challenge is building the system to be user friendly for all; educated and Uneducated, but will are relentlessly working to solve this challenge by getting more developers on the team.