Recycle for Pad: Newrest Nigeria partners with the African Cleanup Initiative

Wednesday, November 12th 2025

The Recycle for Pad initiative, sponsored by Newrest Nigeria and implemented by the African Cleanup Initiative (ACI), was set up at Righteous View School on October 9th, 2025. This intervention demonstrated the power of partnership in advancing menstrual hygiene, environmental sustainability, and the wellbeing of young girls in underserved communities.

The Recycle for Pad initiative

This initiative contributes to the fight against period poverty and supporting uninterrupted access to education for children who cannot afford sanitary pads.

Transforming waste into resources for sustainable impact

Both the waste management contractors and the African Cleanup Initiative act as aggregators within the recycling value chain. Through their collection hubs, they supply major recycling companies that process the materials into plastic flakes or pellets. These are then exported and transformed into finished products such as jerseys, shoes, socks, cups, and bags.

478 kg of recyclables collected

In August 2025, Newrest Nigeria collected recyclable waste from its operational units and donated 478 kg of recyclable waste to support this initiative. This enabled the association to purchase sanitary pads for children in need.

Meeting the student of Righteous View School

Engage students with the concept of recycling

The session began with an engaging awareness program that introduced the students to the concept of recycling as empowerment showing how simple environmental responsibility can translate into practical social benefits.

Empowering female students

Sanitary pads, made available through the sponsorship of Newrest Nigeria, were distributed to students as a symbol of dignity, care, and support. This action reinforced the core message of the initiative: no girl should be hindered or limited due to lack of access to menstrual care.

Breaking barriers, building confidence

A key moment of the program was the educational presentation delivered by Mrs. Eunice Akhigbe, focusing on WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), personal care, menstrual health, and general hygiene practices. Her approach encouraged active participation, with students engaging in open discussions on topics often considered sensitive. The session fostered a constructive and inclusive learning environment. Students responded with increased confidence and expressed appreciation for the information and support provided.

The school management acknowledged Newrest Nigeria’s contribution, highlighting the value of investing not only in material resources but also in education, dignity, and behavioral development.

Newrest Nigeria remains committed to expanding this collaboration to reach additional schools and strengthen its contribution to community development.

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