Kulu Eco-Services is an environmental startup based in Stellenbosch, South Africa, founded with the mission of addressing the issue of fats, oils, and grease (FOG) buildup in urban drainage systems—a common yet often overlooked problem in African cities. What began as a solution to a single waste management challenge has evolved into a broader vision: transforming waste into renewable energy and biofuels through decentralized on-site treatment hubs, laying the foundation for a viable and sustainable circular economy model.
The distinctive feature of Kulu Eco-Services’ technology lies in its flexibility to operate directly at the source. Instead of relying on large, centralized treatment plants, the startup develops compact processing hubs that can be installed within residential areas or urban infrastructure. These hubs enable on-site sorting and treatment of various waste types, including plastics, organic waste, and grease. Their technology can produce biogas, biofuels, or organic fertilizers while complying with strict regulations in many African countries that ban the landfill disposal of organic and liquid waste. This solution not only addresses environmental pollution effectively but also significantly reduces the costs of waste collection and transportation to centralized facilities—a burden for many resource-limited urban and rural areas.
Compared to current centralized waste treatment models, Kulu Eco-Services’ approach offers several key advantages. On-site processing minimizes emissions from transportation and enhances the community’s ability to reuse energy locally. While traditional treatment technologies require large-scale infrastructure investment, long deployment timelines, and heavy reliance on local authorities, Kulu’s decentralized model is low-cost, easy to implement, and suitable for both urban and rural settings. In fact, many areas in Africa—where waste management systems are often lacking—are beginning to access clean energy through this model, improving living conditions for residents.
Although the company has not publicly disclosed its specific tech stack, Kulu Eco-Services is known for its ongoing R&D efforts to optimize treatment hubs that are compact, low-maintenance, and adaptable to various geographical conditions. In practice, these hubs have demonstrated operational stability and the ability to produce environmentally compliant outputs. Each hub serves not only as a waste treatment site but also as a vital link in the local circular economy chain, creating jobs, providing skills training, and encouraging community engagement in the recycling value chain.
At the P4G Vietnam Summit 2025, Kulu Eco-Services had the opportunity to showcase its model of converting waste into clean energy and biofuels through decentralized treatment hubs. This marked a significant step in the startup’s expansion into the Asian market and underscored the growing interest from international investors and environmental organizations in practical, sustainable solutions. The support to participate in the event—including exhibition space and connections to global partners—serves as clear evidence of the startup’s potential to scale beyond Africa and into developing countries that face urgent waste and renewable energy challenges.
With strong expansion potential, clear environmental benefits, and versatile applications, Kulu Eco-Services stands as a compelling example of how a small-scale startup can generate significant impact, making tangible contributions to sustainable development goals both in Africa and beyond.
