Post by The Earthshot Prize

Our 2024 Earthshot Prize winners Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO), are taking their Zero Waste model across Africa. Now working in Uganda, Ghana, and Botswana, they’re turning waste into clean air and green jobs. In Uganda: Two Facilities divert 270 tonnes of waste per month, producing briquettes, organic fertiliser, and even protein-rich larvae. They’ve engaged 350 informal waste pickers, created 130 green jobs, and trained 120 workers and women’s groups. In Ghana: 50–75 tonnes of waste recovered monthly, air-quality sensors track open-burning, and 1,700+ students and officials are learning about clean air and climate action. In Botswana: New hubs reduce landfill waste, cut methane emissions, and empower communities with composting and recycling. GAYO’s work demonstrates how innovative, integrated waste solutions can deliver measurable environmental, economic, and social impact at scale.