Nairobi-based startup company Gjenge Makers, founded by Nzambi Matee
Earlier today, I published a blog entry about how some scientists are studying, and apparently making serious advances, in the possibility of converting plastic waste into fuel. Also, I admitted to feeling a little skeptical, since it sounded too good to be true. Sure hope that I'm wrong about that.
Whether or not that can be done, here is a very cheery story of how one woman was able to do something productive with plastic waste. The woman is named Nzambi Matee, and she is a very inspirational figure, an engineer from Kenya. And she did manage to do something rather amazing with plastic waste in her country - and it is quite a serious problem there, as it is in so many other countries, as well.
She had the idea to convert this plastic waste and make good use for them by converting them into bricks. These bricks are very durable, yet light. And they can be used for building things, of course. Here is Matee explaining how she came about on the idea:
“In 2017, I decided to quit my formal job as a data analyst in order to focus on sustainability and waste management. Using material engineering and science background, I was like, how can we figure out a way to convert this plastic waste into something useful? It was from here when I decided to enter building space because; building is a basic human need. Fast forward, that’s how we ended up converting plastic into building blocks.”
One of the things that she is trying to do is use these bricks for affordable housing for people in Kenya, which seems simply like a fantastic idea.
She mentioned that our collective understanding of plastic is flawed.
"Plastic waste is not just a Kenya problem, but it's a worldwide problem," said Nzambi Matee. "Here Nairobi we generate about 500 metric tones of plastic waste every single day and only a fraction of that is recycled."
"We decided what more can we do instead of just sitting in the sidelines and complaining. Essentially, companies have to pay to dispose the waste, so we solved their problem."
"That waste essentially comes for free."
She urges us to collectively rethink how we approach plastic and plastic waste, and she is probably right. Here are some thoughts on the subject - and Matee's approach to it - from Soraya Smaoun, who specializes in industrial production techniques with UNEPL
"We must rethink how we manufacture industrial products and deal with them at the end of their useful life."
"Nzambi Matee’s innovation in the construction sector highlights the economic and environmental opportunities when we move from a linear economy, where products, once used, are discarded, to a circular one, where products and materials continue in the system for as long as possible."
Fascinating stuff. This is a real story about how one person is taking some of our collective excesses and waste, and making a slightly better world from it. Truly inspirational.
Below is a link to a couple of related articles, as well as a brief video on the subject:
Kenyan Startup Founder Nzambi Matee Recycles Plastic To Make Bricks That Are Stronger Than Concrete Kenya Architecture News - Feb 12, 2021
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