The Women in Recycling Foundation (WORF) has been awarded the prestigious Her Impact Award by Amplify Health and Development in Africa (AHDA), recognizing the organization’s work in empowering women and youth through sustainable waste management, circular economy initiatives and green entrepreneurship.
This recognition highlights WORF’s commitment to turning waste into opportunity while supporting sustainable livelihoods and building resilient communities. The award comes as a boost for the organization’s ongoing efforts to provide skills, training and economic opportunities to women working in the recycling sector.
“We sincerely appreciate AHDA for celebrating organizations that are creating positive impact in communities,” said WORF. “This award encourages us to continue our work to strengthen women’s participation in recycling and the circular economy.”
Supporting Women in the Recycling Sector
WORF was founded by four environmental feminists who recognized the challenges women face in the recycling industry. In 2020, the group found that women living on less than $2 a day were disproportionately involved in the plastic value chain. Many worked as waste pickers and sorters in recycling companies but faced numerous barriers including patriarchal structures, lack of skills, limited training opportunities and restricted mobility. These challenges prevented women from improving their livelihoods or accessing strategic employment opportunities within the plastic waste market.
Recognizing the potential to create lasting change, the founders registered the group as a non-governmental organization, the Women in Recycling Foundation. Since then, WORF has focused on building programs that equip women with the knowledge and skills to run recycling businesses, participate in circular economy initiatives and contribute to environmentally sustainable practices.
Empowering Communities Through Green Entrepreneurship
WORF’s mission is to foster a sustainable environment for women, including young women and women with disabilities, by promoting gender-inclusive waste management systems. The organization provides skills development, knowledge sharing and business development support for women working in recycling. Through these initiatives, women are empowered to take leadership roles in waste management projects, driving both economic and environmental progress.
The organization envisions a society where waste pollution is minimized and women can participate fully in sustainable economic activities. WORF also advocates for policies that promote gender equality and sustainability, ensuring women have equal opportunities to benefit from climate-resilient practices in the recycling sector.
By focusing on these objectives, WORF contributes not only to environmental health but also to economic empowerment and social inclusion. The Her Impact Award recognizes these efforts and reinforces the importance of supporting initiatives that create real, measurable change in communities.
WORF’s journey demonstrates that even small steps toward change matter and for the organization, this recognition marks the beginning of a wider effort to scale their programs, reach more women and strengthen communities through sustainable waste management.
With growing awareness of the benefits of circular economy and green entrepreneurship, initiatives like WORF show that environmental responsibility and economic opportunity can go hand in hand, empowering women while building stronger, more resilient societies.
