With regards to the Uber and 4 year gap. There is a technological gap that needs to be filled. It is easy to look at Uber and say why didn't someone else just fill the role...but there are logistics to figure out and capital to get things started. If you can't do both you can't fill the gap.

Having said that IF you find a need and IF you have the idea and capital then there are certainly opportunities....and often investors willing to fund good ideas.

Personally when I think of your recycling business my overriding thought is about plastic extruder devices which turn plastics (PET) into fiber which can be spun and turned into clothing.

Or LDPE (I believe the material in Nigerian water sachet packets) and melt to form plastic lumber.

But then again, there are lots and lots of other things out there which are opportunities. I see them all the time.... but it takes a special person to make a prototype, make a business model, get others enthusiastic about it, and get it going :)

Other things i love for cool ideas : Woodgas cookstoves (Belonio made a really awesome one in the Philippines...never caught on but I had one and it was awesome) and biogas digesters... Something I really want but again but because of the systems in Canada it would be impossible to start here. However, in a place like Nigeria which is still developing IF it caught on...well, it could be game changing :)