Melat Nigus

Ethiopian environmental entrepreneur revolutionizing waste management through innovation

Melat Nigus is a visionary environmentalist and social entrepreneur from Ethiopia who has made significant contributions to sustainable development through her work in waste management and recycling. Born in 1990 in Addis Ababa, Nigus founded Waste4Change in 2015, a company that transforms urban waste into valuable resources while creating economic opportunities for marginalized communities.

Her innovative approach combines technology with community engagement, developing a mobile app that connects waste pickers with businesses needing recycling services. This system not only increases recycling rates but also formalizes the informal waste sector, providing fair wages and safety equipment to over 2,000 workers. Nigus' work has diverted 12,000+ tons of waste from landfills and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 30,000 metric tons annually.

She expanded her impact through partnerships with organizations like the UN Environment Programme and the World Bank. In 2018, Nigus launched the African Waste Innovators Network, fostering collaboration among 50+ startups across 15 African countries. Her TED Talk 'Turning Trash into Treasure' has over 2 million views, inspiring global audiences.

Nigus' achievements include being named one of Africa's Top 100 Innovators (2019) and a Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur (2021). Her model has been replicated in Nairobi, Accra, and Lagos, proving that sustainable waste management can be both profitable and socially impactful.