Africa's recycling supply chain runs on paper and phone calls. Circul replaces it with a five-tier digital platform — free for the collectors doing the work, powerful for the processors who need the data.
The infrastructure to collect and process recyclable waste exists. The problem is coordination — and data.
Processors can't see what's available, where, or when. Collectors don't know where to take material. Everyone operates in the dark.
Paper receipts and phone logs don't create audit trails. Brands and certifiers have no way to verify where recycled content actually came from.
Collectors — the backbone of the system — have no proof of earnings, no transaction history, no path to financial inclusion.
Each tier uses a tool designed for their context — from USSD on a basic phone to a full analytics dashboard.
Collectors record pickups via USSD or mobile app. Each collection is timestamped, geotagged, and linked to their account — building a verifiable earnings history.
Aggregators confirm handoffs from collectors, sort by material type, and create batches ready for processor pickup — all tracked in real time.
Processors see available supply in real time, request pickups, and get full traceability on every batch they receive — with certified provenance attached.
Recyclers transform raw bales into flakes and pellets — adding the processing step that makes material converter-ready, with full batch traceability.
Converters access recyclers and processors with verified output data, attach ESG-ready documentation to every purchase, and demonstrate circular sourcing to their clients.
Processors are the linchpin of the recycling chain — but they're operating with incomplete information and unreliable supply. Circul changes that.
See available material by type, volume, and location — updated as collectors log new pickups. No more driving routes on a hunch.
Every batch comes with a full chain of custody: who collected it, when, where, and how it was sorted. Audit-ready from day one.
Publish what you need. Aggregators see your requirements and can route material accordingly — turning a fragmented network into a responsive supply chain.
Your collectors, aggregators, recyclers, and converters are all on the same system. No integrations, no spreadsheet reconciliation, no WhatsApp chains.
The people doing the hardest work pay nothing. The businesses extracting commercial value from that data pay a fair rate.
"Make every gram of waste visible, valuable, and traceable, so the people who collect it can finally earn what they deserve."
Circul is built for the informal sector first — the collectors and aggregators who move the most material and earn the least recognition. The platform only works if they adopt it. So we made it free, built for basic phones, and designed to deliver immediate value: proof of income, payment history, and a path to financial inclusion.
If that mission resonates with you — whether you're a processor looking for reliable supply, a converter needing ESG documentation, or an investor who sees the opportunity — we'd love to talk.
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