ReciVeci and E-Moviliza: linking electric mobility, circular economy and social inclusion in Ecuador
- Thamires Pecis
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
In Quito, the E-Moviliza logistics pilot is showing how electric mobility can support cleaner transport, better services and safer working conditions. Through the pilot, ReciVeci tested an electric van to collect recyclable glass from different waste generators and see how this kind of technology could work in the daily reality of the recycling chain.
For ReciVeci, a women-founded social enterprise working in recycling and circular economy in Ecuador, the pilot was a chance to connect electric mobility with work that was already centred on social and environmental impact.
“When the E-Moviliza team reached out to us after learning about our work with informal recyclers, we saw it as a great opportunity to connect our mission with other teams working toward more sustainable and inclusive cities,” explains Lorena Gallardo, Co-Founder and Innovation and Sustainability Manager at ReciVeci.
Looking at the recycling chain differently
ReciVeci joined the pilot to understand how electric mobility could work in practice. Using an electric van, the team collected recyclable glass and assessed whether the vehicle could improve efficiency while reducing emissions.
“Transportation is usually the most energy-intensive part of the recycling chain,” Lorena says. “Shifting to electric mobility allowed us to compare performance and environmental impact in a real-world setting.”
That is what made the pilot useful. In waste management, transport affects costs, energy use and the overall efficiency of the system. Testing an electric vehicle in that context helped show what electric mobility can actually offer when it is applied to everyday operations.
“What stayed with me was seeing how two very different worlds, electric mobility and grassroots recycling, came together in a meaningful way. In Ecuador, electric mobility is still new, and connecting it with an informal and often vulnerable group like grassroots recyclers felt incredibly powerful. It reinforced our belief that sustainable technologies should be accessible to everyone, not just a few.”
Work rooted in dignity
ReciVeci began in 2015 as a citizen-led volunteering initiative connecting grassroots recyclers directly with households. Since then, it has grown into a social enterprise that uses technology and partnerships to connect different actors across the recyclable waste management chain.
“What inspired me was seeing firsthand the unsafe, precarious conditions in which recyclers were working, often digging through unsorted trash to recover materials. I’ve always been passionate about waste management and deeply concerned by how much waste we generate and how much ends up polluting the environment.”
ReciVeci was founded by women, and most of the grassroots recyclers it works with are women. That makes the question of inclusion very concrete: who gets access to safer conditions, better tools and more recognition for the work they already do.
“Our purpose is that grassroots recyclers, most of whom are women, can work safely, without having to recover materials from mixed garbage. We want them to become recognized service providers within formal systems.I would love to see women recyclers empowered, trained, and even driving electric vehicles as they carry out their work with dignity.”
The pilot also helped clarify what comes next for ReciVeci.
“The pilot confirmed for us that our next operational vehicle will be electric, it’s both more sustainable and more economical".
About E-Moviliza
The project "Support for the Transition to Low-Carbon Electric Mobility in Ecuador, E-MOVILIZA" is an initiative led by the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MAE), with the goal of accelerating the adoption of low-emission electric vehicles and reducing the use of fossil fuels, as well as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and air pollution in the transportation sector in Ecuador. In this endeavor, the MAE works closely with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transportation (MIT), ensuring a comprehensive approach to the transition to sustainable mobility in the country.
The project has been approved for co-financing by the Global Environment Facility (GEF7) and is based on a Cooperation Agreement between the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as the implementing agency and the Urban Electric Mobility Initiative (UEMI) as the executing agency, in collaboration with the National Polytechnic School of Ecuador and the Center for Sustainable Mobility of Chile.
Comments