FREEE Recycle Limited and the Rural Women Energy Security Initiative Ltd have entered into a partnership aimed at converting recycled aerosol waste into clean cooking fuel for women in rural and peri-urban communities across Nigeria.

In a statement, the groups said the collaboration, which focused on distributing liquefied petroleum gas recovered from Nigeria’s first aerosol recycling plant, is expected to reduce energy poverty and improve environmental sustainability.

According to them, the plant was developed by FREEE Recycle in partnership with DeSpray Environmental.

Under the arrangement, FREEE Recycle will supply LPG derived from aerosol waste, while RUWES will leverage its existing nationwide network of women-led groups to ensure distribution and adoption in underserved communities.

The partnership, it was said, will also promote policy advocacy and capacity-building initiatives for women, encouraging their participation in clean energy and environmental management.

The Managing Director of FREEE Recycle, Ifedolapo Runsewe, said the partnership reflected the company’s commitment to transforming waste into useful energy resources.

“At FREEE Recycle, we are driven by the conviction that waste can be transformed into real solutions for people and the planet. This partnership with RUWES allows us to close the loop, recovering gas from aerosol waste and redirecting it to meet the pressing energy needs of women and families in underserved communities,” Runsewe stated.

She added that the initiative not only supports a circular economy but also promotes gender inclusion by positioning women as active participants in sustainable development.

Head of Secretariat of RUWES, Mrs. Jumaima Ella, said the partnership aligns with RUWES’s mission to expand access to clean energy and empower women through entrepreneurship.

“We’re a self-help, women-led NGO with over two million members across Nigeria. We empower women to demand increased access to clean energy products through our innovative Gender Social Enterprise Model. By collaborating with FREEE Recycle, we’re advancing our shared vision of a sustainable future and promoting energy security for women and families in underserved communities,” she added.

The initiative targets one of Nigeria’s most pressing public health concerns, the widespread use of firewood and unsafe fuels for cooking, which exposes women and children to harmful smoke.

According to the World Bank, more than 98,000 Nigerian women die each year from smoke inhalation linked to cooking with firewood.