From pro basketball courts in Metz and Lyon to the front lines of the green economy in Luxembourg, Mamedy Diawara’s life is a story of radical reinvention. Today, the former athlete is turning cigarette butts and food waste into energy and compost through his circular economy startup, Second Life.
“Second Life is in some way my second life,” says the entrepreneur. “Because in a previous life I was a professional basketball player for the team in Metz… And I’ve always been interested in the environment.”
Founded in 2024 by Diawara and two co-founders, Second Life is already gaining traction with its dual focus: recycling cigarette butts into alternative fuel and turning organic waste into compost via on-site eco-digesters.
Giving Waste a Purpose
The core of the company’s philosophy lies in giving meaning to what society typically discards.
The company’s innovative approach starts with its smart ashtrays and urban collection units, produced locally in the north of Luxembourg by Metal Line. These ashtrays aren’t just passive bins-they’re pleasing to the eye and are designed to prevent contamination.
The cigarette butts are collected using electric vehicles and then turned into energy-rich fuel, thanks to their recycling partner, Lamesch, based in Bettembourg.
“The cigarette butts are mixed with motor oils, hydrocarbon oils, and contaminated waste,” explained Diawara, adding: “This mixture forms a kind of paste called ‘alternative energy fuel’. Then Lamesch offers this fuel to large energy-consuming industries like cement factories.”
Borderless but Local
Operating at the heart of Europe could help Second Life scale quickly into France.
Expansion is only possible, the co-founder insists, if local circularity is respected. “We can’t transport cigarette butts from France to Luxembourg or vice versa,” he says. “There has to be consistency in what we do.”
Today, Second Life counts banks, Michelin-starred restaurants, and even the Rockhal, Luxembourg’s largest concert venue, among its early adopters. Event organisers are also turning to the company for sustainable waste solutions.
From Cigarette Butts to Compost
Second Life’s latest venture is the eco-digester, a compact machine that transforms food waste into usable compost in just 24 hours. The technology came via a partnership with a French engineer, and the timing couldn’t be better.
“With the eco-digester, you can transform food scraps into compost within 24 hours directly on-site,” the entrepreneur said. The device significantly reduces waste volume, transforming 20 kg of biowaste into 2 kg of compost.
It’s a practical solution not only for sustainability but also for hygiene, as it heats the waste up to 70°C, to kill harmful bacteria and keep bad smells at bay.
Early clients for the eco-digester include restaurants and financial institutions. But rather than relying solely on sales presentations, Second Life invites potential customers to visit live installations.
“What’s important to us is that, beyond just showcasing the machine, we take potential clients to places where our machines are already installed. That way, they get real-world feedback.”
Athlete Mindset, Entrepreneurial Drive
For Diawara, this isn’t just a career pivot—it’s a legacy play. In sport and in sustainability, the best outcomes come from teamwork and persistence.
“I find a lot of parallels with my past as an athlete—pushing your limits, teamwork, putting the individual at the service of the collective. I think that’s what environmental work is all about too.”
