2020 CONCORDIA AFRICA INITIATIVE

Digital Transformation in Waste & Recycling

MainStage

• Digital platform company Rubicon moves towards its mission to end waste by connecting waste collectors and municipalities and bringing transparency and measurement tools to what Renaud de Viel Castel characterizes as a ‘traditionally opaque’ industry.
• Rubicon technology enables trash collection vehicles to operate as mobile data collection centers. Using technology, there are opportunities to better understand service needs in different neighborhoods, creating efficiencies in trash collection. At the same time, data must be protected, and only relevant data points should be collected, to ensure citizen privacy.
• Companies increasingly benefit from visibility in the waste management space, supporting the reporting and accountability efforts aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and better understanding their supply chain vulnerabilities. 
• When considering expansion into an African market, Rubicon looks for ‘willpower’ and a sense of urgency. Emerging markets that demonstrate aligned goals through legislation represent ideal partners for companies like Rubicon that are considering regional expansion.

“Opportunities are everywhere. There’s waste everywhere, and it needs to be addressed,” Renaud de Viel Castel