Quito, June 2026. ReciVeci® officially celebrated its tenth anniversary at an event that brought together over 120 attendees, including strategic partners, businesses, academics, volunteers, and grassroots recyclers at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ). The event served as an occasion to reflect on the company's journey, forge partnerships, and recognize the ecosystem that has transformed waste management and the circular economy in Ecuador.
From volunteer meetings to a social enterprise
The evening began with a look back at the past led by co-founders Lorena Gallardo and Claudia Andrade, as they recalled the project's first steps in 2015:
"It all started with an invitation to a civic lab by the Fundación Ciudadanía Inteligente... we were very different people: designers, environmentalists, systems people, communicators... nobody really knew what would come of it," Lorena Gallardo recalled.
The initiative took shape on the ground, challenging the installation of closed containers that limited access to recyclable materials in the capital.
"We decided to go out into the streets to understand what we could change and with whom... come rain, thunder, or lightning, at night, to find the people who were recovering waste in the city's darkness," explained Claudia Andrade.
The presentation paid tribute to the Pulupa family, the first group of recyclers who trusted the initiative in República de El Salvador.
The transition from volunteer work to a business structure occurred after winning the IMPAQTO Urban Entrepreneurship Challenge.
"That was a huge shift in mindset. We understood that social impact cannot be sustained solely through sacrifice. Neither ours nor that of the grassroots recyclers. Economically recognizing their work was a fundamental part of building something fair," Claudia Andrade emphasized.
A strategic bridge between academia and social innovation
One of the most significant moments of the evening was the official signing of the strategic agreement between ReciVeci and USFQ, an event led by Paula Guerra, General Manager of ReciVeci, and Mauricio Cepeda, Administrative Vice President of the university. This agreement formalizes pre-professional internship programs, thesis projects, and applied research within the campus.
During the session, which featured an address by Valeria Ochoa from USFQ's Environmental Management Office, university authorities highlighted their deep pride in seeing that alumnae from their classrooms, like Lorena Gallardo, are leading triple-impact projects in the country.
"Education and research cannot remain confined to classrooms. They must go out, engage with reality, and transform the environment... This agreement has a profoundly human meaning," emphasized Valeria Ochoa.
How much does a Fair Ton weigh?
The technical and accountability agenda was marked by the presentation of the results of the regional "Fair Ton" model. Felipe Toledo, representative of the AVINA Foundation, spoke to highlight the collaborative work with Latitud R to improve the living conditions of recyclers.
Following this, Edicson Gamba, ReciVeci's Head of Operations, presented the metrics achieved over these ten years:
2,500 tons of recyclable materials recovered (avoiding 2,000 tons of CO2eq) and an ecosystem that already includes 1,910 informal waste pickers.
"1,800 are visible through the ReciApp, where they connect with over 20,000 neighbors... For ReciVeci, it's not about the material. It's about the people. Invisibility has a real cost, and our system is a concrete way to start changing that," said Edicson Gamba, highlighting milestones such as the digital profile for waste pickers and the health brigades of the 'Fun ReciMorning'.
Additionally, an artistic interlude was held to liven up the event. The Musicomedian presented a stand-up show that, through humor, invited reflection on recycling and its impact on daily life.
The central role of informal waste pickers in the circular economy
The presentation was given by Laura Guanoluisa, representative of the National Network of Recyclers of Ecuador (RENAREC). In this way, Guanoluisa emphasized the fundamental role of inclusive recycling and the importance of recognizing informal waste pickers as the key component and primary driver of the circular economy in the country.
The global seal validating triple impact
The anniversary coincided with the official awarding of the B Corp Certification, an international seal granted by Emiliana, representative of Sistema B. This milestone formally integrates ReciVeci into the global community of companies that meet the highest standards of social, environmental, and transparency performance, demonstrating that corporate success should be measured by collective well-being.
Recognition for Strategic Clients and Their Waste Management
ReciVeci's growth is largely due to the stakeholders who committed to the circular economy and social responsibility. Lorena, Claudia, and Paula presented awards to the brands that have partnered with and trusted ReciVeci's services at various stages, highlighting the presence of allies such as Latitud R, MC Comunicaciones, Meraki, Aseguradora del Sur, DHL Express, IMPAQTO, Veolia, San Felipe, CAF, Cusi, Adelca, Coca-Cola, Essity, Software Evolutivo, Proquim, OIM, and Empaqplast.
A Tribute to the Volunteers Who Started This Project
The awards ceremony concluded with a dedication to those who built the community from day one. The founders presented special awards to the first volunteers who in 2015 lent a hand to launch the pilot neighborhoods in Quito and helped program the first version of the ReciApp. This tribute recognized the dedication of those individuals who, between late-night meetings and weekends, believed in the project long before there were metrics or corporate results to show.
To conclude the evening, Paula Guerra offered a closing toast, inviting attendees to maintain their political and corporate commitment for the next ten years of inclusive recycling in Ecuador, before transitioning to the cocktail and networking session.
