The arrival of Global Recycling Day 2020 also means that the time has finally come for us to announce the winners of our #RecyclingHeroes competition. Each of our ten winners will receive a $1,000 prize for their commitment and innovation in local recycling.
Since February we have been accepting nominations for our #RecyclingHeroes competition, encouraging people from all over the world to put forward individuals, businesses and communities that are leading the way with their recycling initiatives. These #RecyclingHeroes herald the young people, innovators and inspiring businesses and individuals across the world, who are shining a light on recycling and securing a better future for our planet.
WINNERS
Plogging Club – Nigeria
A movement inspiring young people across Nigerian campuses to take action for the climate through exercise that combines jogging with picking up litter and recyclables.
Reform Africa – Uganda
Tackles waste disposal by transforming plastic waste into sustainable, waterproof and durable bags, employing youth to collect the plastic waste, and single mothers who wash and tailor the products.
U-Recycle – Nigeria
A youth-led non-profit organisation working to promote a circular economy in Nigeria through reinforcing a sustainable recycling culture, investing time and resources into educating schools and communities about the value of recycling.
Zizo Ezi Foundation – South Africa
A non-profit organisation that operates in South Africa in the Eastern Cape and works with school children in rural areas teaching them on the benefits, as well as the do’s and don’ts regarding a clean eco future in South Africa.
Anuya Trivedi, Founder of Greenbuddies – India
An organisation that creates eco-designed, cost effective ‘Recycled Play Stations’ for children out of tyres and other reusable scraps.
Aribe Bajwa, Founder of Youth Social Ambassadors – Pakistan
A youth-based organisation working towards community empowerment and specifically towards environmental causes, including planting 300,000 plus trees and providing training and awareness sessions on conservation of environment at different institutions.
Made by TREID – Philippines
Made by TREID extends the life consumption of old clothes and uniforms to reduce environmental waste by transforming them into higher valued products such as multifunctional and fashionable shoes and bags, home accessories and new fabric, while also providing job opportunities to disadvantaged people.
Ecolana – Mexico
A social impact company focused on inclusive recycling practices in Mexico. On the one hand it is a digital platform with a recycling guide (a map and a waste-materials dictionary) that guides consumers on how and where to recycle, and on the other it helps consumer brands develop recycling programmes.
Cappabue National School – Ireland
This small school in Cork is raising awareness of climate change with their viral rap video ‘One Small Change’, a response to polluted beaches in Co Cork.
Nick Oettinger, Managing Director and Founder of The Furniture Recycling Group – UK
The TFR Group is helping to tackle the UK’s mattress landfill problem, diverting 400,000 mattresses away from landfills each year. The company has recycled more than 1.5m mattresses since launching, and is continually investing in research to make the recycling of mattresses more viable and much more efficient.
Top 100 #RecyclingHeroes
Green Habitat Botswana
Récup’Art initiative
Cameroon Gender and Environment Watch
Think Green
SIBIRO Phlippe Junio-Centrafrique Ecologie
Kongo safi services
Djibrecy
Yared Belete Belay
Plasticom International
Juviano Landim – GUINE BISSAU VERDE HOMEM NOVO
Maulidi Hamisi Mwinyikai
SunPoynt Health
Live Love Recycle
Green N Kool ( and its founder Marie Christina Kolo)
Purple Innovation for Women and Girls
Irene Missanga Muja – Mabaki Mali Enterprises
Chelvin Ramsamy
RecycleGard Hub Limited
Arleegreen Renewables
Dr. Chukwuka Benjamin Ogbonna, PhD
Michaiah Benson Moses / Solaristique Nigeria
Muhammad Salisu Abdullahi
Chanja Datti Recycling Company
Iligoga Alice Douce
SHAE Recycling Sierra Leone Ltd
Middleburg Preparatory School
Einstina Company Limited
Ericsson Temu
Christian Mwijage
Juliet Namujju
Gown of Hope
Clean City
London Drugs Limited
Mazza Recycling Services
Recycle Across America
Planet Ark Environmental Foundation
Onya
The eBin Company
BD Clean
Leki Dawa/Bhutan Alternative/Thimphu/Bhutan
Ranjit Bar
Wilma Rodrigues
Seoul City
Center for Research and Sustainable Development (CREASION)
K.Electric
Eco Pspindles (Private ) Limited
Cumhuriyet Ortaokulu Beşiktaş Istanbul Turkey
Valplast
La Casa Verde
WasteFactory St. Maarten
hoodHeroes
lycee Monod 92 Clamart , France
Save Nature Group
Bio-bean Limited
E-Waste Race
Foil for Snappy
Matt Kirby, ‘Can Collect’
Sky Ocean Rescure
Terry Clark & Terry Thomas, Street Waste Action Team (SWAT), Westminster City Council
Eco Harmony
O-I Glass, Inc.
Flipyarn
RecyclingHero Associations
BMR – Bureau of Middle East Recycling Inc.
Austria Recycling
Coberec Textiles
European Recycling Industries’ Confereration EURIC
ARTSHC – Association of Recyclers and Traders of Second Hand Clothing
BAR – Bulgarian Association of Recycling
INESFA – Brazilian Association of Iron and Steel Scrap Companies
Canadian Association of Recycling Industries (CARI)
Asociacion Nacional de la Industria del Reciclaje AG – ANIR
CAMU – China Association of Metal Scrap Utilization
China National Resources Recycling Association
CMRA – China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association Recycling Metal Branch
CSPA – China Scrap Plastics Association
Grupo Empresarial de Reciclaje
BDSV E. V.
BVSE – Bund. Sekundärrohstoffe
Verband Deutscher Metall-Händler E.V. – VDM
Federacion Española de la Recuperacion
Gremi de Recuperacio de Catalunya
REPACAR
FEDEREC
BMRA – British Metals Recycling Association
Textile Recycling Association
The Recycling Association
Hungarian Waste Management Federation (HOSZ)
Inland Importers & Consumers Association
MRAI – Material Recycling Association of India
ASSOFERMET
Japan Iron & Steel Recycling Institute – JISRI
Dutch Waste Management Association
IGMNIR – Economic Chamber of Non-Ferrous Metals and Recycling
Scrap Economy Chamber of Industry and Commerce – IPHGZ
Organizatia Patronala Si Profesionala ‘REMAT’
National Self-Regulated Organization of Entreprises for the Treatment of Metal Scrap, Production and Consumption Wastes
Tudam Degerlendirilebilir Atik Malzemeler Sanayicileri Dernegi
ISRI
MRA- Metal Recyclers Association of South Africa
The Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association (SMART)
It has been a pleasure reading everyone’s incredible submissions, and it was no easy task choosing the winners – there are hundreds of entrants who could have been chosen.
Lastly, thank you to everyone who got involved in the #RecyclingHeroes competition. We are proud to recognise the world’s unsung #RecyclingHeroes, from children, schools, teachers and professionals to businesses and communities, and everyone in-between. Global Recycling Day allows everyone to play their part in the circular economy, help protect our natural resources and build a better future for generations to come. Anyone can be a #RecyclingHero.