Waste management is a major challenge across African cities. Large volumes of waste end up in landfills or informal dumps, while valuable materials are lost and communities bear the environmental cost.
KALTANI saw a different opportunity: what if waste could be treated as an asset rather than a problem?
The Nigerian clean-tech company built a technology-enabled waste management and recycling model that tracks and collects waste, sorts and recovers valuable materials, and converts different waste streams into new resources.
But KALTANI goes beyond traditional recycling.
Its model creates multiple value streams from waste, including:
- Recovered recyclable materials
- Waste-to-energy and refuse-derived fuel
- Organic waste converted into fertiliser
- Carbon and plastic credits
- Digital waste tracking, data and technology solutions
This means the same sustainability challenge can create multiple business opportunities.
KALTANI reports that its platform is currently managing waste for a population of about 4 million people and collecting waste from more than 800,000 households.
Its approach also creates green jobs, particularly through waste aggregation hubs in underserved communities, while building systems for measurable environmental impact.
The ESG Lesson
Sustainability can create value at several points in the same value chain.
- Waste can become a raw material.
- Waste can become energy.
- Waste data can become an asset.
- And environmental impact can potentially become a source of climate finance.
At The CircularNet, we spotlight these businesses, connect the people driving change, and share practical insights that help organisations turn sustainability ideas into action.
Because sustainable solutions should not just solve problems. They should create value.