2025 Award "Best Practice in Citizen Participation"

Recycling, sorting, and waste transformation have emerged as responses to the growing environmental pollution challenges in our communities. In the face of increasing waste production every day, about 400g of plastic waste, several local initiatives have arisen to raise awareness among the population and encourage sustainable practices. Inspired by circular economy and eco-art movements already present in other countries, this practice has developed to combine creativity, the environment, and socio-economic inclusion. The idea of valorizing plastic waste through art was born at APEL TOGO with a dual purpose:

1. Contribute to reducing climate change caused by the high production of waste and the lack of awareness about the importance of recycling waste. Ecological impact: giving a second life to plastic and solid waste collected.
2. Reduce the growing unemployment rate in our communities by promoting the professional integration of young local artists and craftsmen who have incredible talents.

Thanks to our strategies, we raise awareness among companies and organizations about the importance of sorting and recycling waste. This action targets their CSR (corporate social responsibility) and provides them with significant support for environmental and ecological causes. The framework for consultation and these actions is collaborative, inclusive, and constructive. We can mention our partners, such as NEEMBA, the National Federation of Professional Associations of Visual Arts of Togo (FENAPAV-Togo), and many other organizations that align with our vision.

In short, we recover tires, scrap metal, cardboard, wood, office paper, old magazines/newspapers, and used plastic objects, transforming them into art and decorative objects.

Regarding compost production, we mobilize the communities, particularly agricultural producers and gardeners, to refer to the solid waste produced and stored through sorting.

For more information: https://apeltogo.over-blog.com/ (External link)