Wasteworx Botswana Driving Innovation in Recycling

Wasteworx Botswana Driving Innovation in Recycling. Phenyo Tsheko, Founder of Wasteworx Botswana, is reshaping the way communities approach waste management through an innovative, technology-driven recycling initiative. His vision is to make recycling easy, accessible, and rewarding for households, businesses, and institutions across the country.

Wasteworx Botswana encourages waste separation at source, ensuring that recyclable materials are collected efficiently and responsibly. By promoting community participation, the initiative aims to reduce environmental impact while creating opportunities for sustainable growth.

A key innovation is the development of a prototype app designed to track recycling data and generate reports. This tool enables individuals, businesses, and institutions to better understand their waste generation patterns, fostering accountability and informed decision-making.

Tsheko’s journey has been supported by the Botswana Digital & Innovation Hub and further strengthened through his graduation from the MIT Kuo Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship Early Stage Program. These platforms have provided mentorship, exposure, and resources to scale Wasteworx Botswana’s impact.

Speaking about his mission, Tsheko emphasized that recycling is not just about environmental responsibility but also about building a culture of innovation and community empowerment. Wasteworx Botswana’s model demonstrates how technology can be harnessed to solve pressing local challenges while contributing to broader sustainability goals.

The initiative aligns with Botswana’s drive to nurture tech startups as engines of growth and prosperity. By combining environmental stewardship with entrepreneurship, Wasteworx Botswana is helping to build a greener, more resilient economy.

Applications for the 2026 cohort of the MIT program are currently open and close on 7 June 2026, offering aspiring entrepreneurs the chance to follow in Tsheko’s footsteps and demonstrate commitment to solving real-world problems. Interested applicants can apply via: MIT Early Stage Program Application.