Beyond Solid Waste Management

Waste Disposal Logistics

Business & Impact

Beyond Solid Waste Management (BSWM) coordinates waste disposal logistics for hundreds of low-income households in Kenya. Supported by volunteers and full-time employees, they create a low-cost alternative for waste collection and disposal for those who cannot afford to hire contractors to carry out these functions. The project covers 12 sub-counties of Kisii County in Kenya, employing over 85 female employees with quality jobs through services in garbage collection, waste sorting, and transportation to dump sites.

The Challenge

Beyond Solid Waste Management came to Bridges for Enterprise looking to expand its operations and bolster its business processes. With the goal of broadening its services across Kenya, Beyond Solid Waste Management sought strategic support in improving its revenue collection and marketing, as well as exploring compost soil as a potential value stream to create further impact and implement a circular economy solution in its model.

Our Strategy

With growth on the horizon, Bridges for Enterprise has offered recommendations and crafted deliverables to support Beyond Solid Waste Management in catalyzing improved waste collection and women empowerment in Kenya. Strategies included creating a functional Profit & Loss (P&L) Model, a revenue collection roadmap, a marketing plan with sample promotional materials, as well as other recommendations based on in-depth industry research.

Deliverables from BfE Vancouver

  • Marketing Strategy: BfE created a marketing strategy that will be used to support BSWM’s branding efforts. By providing a cohesive, multi-channel marketing plan and communication strategy informed by research, the BfE team provided a set of best practices and a variety of sample marketing materials to accelerate their implementation. In addition, the six-step marketing plan outlined how to identify a value proposition and recommended the channels to deliver this message.
  • Operational Strategy Proposal – Revenue Collection Roadmap: BfE created a revenue collection roadmap which outlined BSWM’s objectives from client identification and communication up until post-revenue collection and receipting. This targeting sought to improve BSWM’s revenue collection timeliness, accuracy, and reliability. In addition, the team provided examples of SMS communications to accompany invoices, payment reminders, and receipting to increase transparency with customers.
  • Profit & Loss Model: BfE provided a functional Profit & Loss (P&L) Model for BSWM to track its revenues, expenses, and invoices. The P&L model will also allow for both BfE and BSWM to obtain an overview of its financial performance over time. This will benefit BSWM as the model will help strengthen the understanding of its financial position and aid in financial planning. In the long run, this more consistent way of recording financial data will demonstrate reliable financial management practices to potential investors.

How Dorothy (Beyond Solid Waste Management) benefitted from working with BfE

Collecting and tracking revenue, expenses, and invoices will allow BSWM to better measure the effectiveness and growth of the business, ultimately making it easier to secure potential grants or investments.

A formal invoicing procedure will improve revenue collection and allow BSWM to rely less on government funding and create more income stability for women. In addition, increased job creation will result in opportunities for women’s empowerment.

Identifying new sources of revenue and impact such as upcycling collected waste into raw materials or products that can be sold for profit. In Kenya, the compost market appears to have great market potential.

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