The trailblazers, Women in Waste recycling & management

Our guest Olatokunbo Ige is the Founder of LIVINGSTONES ECOVILLAGE & UTRADER, an entrepreneurial safe hub in Lome, Togo. She takes us through her day-to-day job at the Eco village and how much opportunities exist for women within the waste recycling eco-system. According to the UN's Global E-waste Monitor 2020, a record of 53.6 million metric tones (Mt) of electronic waste was generated worldwide in 2019. But in developing countries, it is said that waste management activities are usually carried out by the poor, for their survival. It has been estimated that 2% of the population in Asia, Latin America, and Africa are dependent on waste for their livelihood. But interestingly, research has shown that the discarded e-waste in 2019 alone was worth more than 57 billion US$. Does this sound like an uncharted sector? Are there opportunities for women entrepreneurs? What would engaging in this sector look like?  Our guest is available for mentorship and can be reached via email @ [email protected] Kindly share your feedback via the comment section.