In March 2022, Nzambi Matee, a 30-year-old Kenyan engineer, was transforming plastic waste into eco-friendly bricks at her Nairobi-based startup, Gjenge Makers.
“Plastic still has value,” Matee told AFP, addressing the 500 metric tonnes of plastic waste generated daily in Nairobi, of which less than 10% is recycled.
Her factory produces 1,500 bricks daily from household and industrial plastic, creating pavers two to seven times stronger, half the weight, and up to 15% cheaper than concrete, per.
Process and Impact
Gjenge Makers shreds plastic into colorful flakes, mixes them with sand, and subjects the blend to extreme heat to form durable bricks.
“Because of that, it doesn’t break,” Matee said, demonstrating their strength by clapping two bricks together, per.
In 2021, the company recycled 50 tonnes of plastic, aiming to double that in 2022.
The fibrous nature of plastic and a unique process preventing air pockets ensure superior compression strength, per.
These bricks pave roads, driveways, and sidewalks in Nairobi and are eyed for low-cost housing.
Challenges and Limitations
Only four of the seven major plastic types can be used, with PET (used in bottles) currently incompatible, though Matee aims to address this, per. “There is more that can be done… We are just a single drop in the ocean,” she noted, emphasizing incremental impact.
The custom-built machinery, sourced from spare industrial parts, took years to perfect, with steady production starting in 2019, per.
Nairobi’s plastic waste, largely dumped in landfills, rivers, and oceans, provides an abundant resource, per.
Social and Economic Benefits
Gjenge Makers has created over 100 direct and indirect jobs, supporting garbage collectors, women, and youth, per.
“Let’s just say I sleep better,” Matee said, reflecting on leaving the oil and gas industry, per.
Her work earned global recognition, including designing a gavel for a UN environment summit in 2022, per.
The company’s bricks cost $7.70 per square meter, compared to higher concrete prices, making them accessible for schools and homeowners, per.
Future Ambitions
Matee aims to lead in alternative building materials, targeting affordable housing with a prototype block to replace traditional materials, planning a model home by year-end 2022, per.
“We want to be the leaders in alternative building products,” she stated.
With demand outstripping supply (10,000 pavers daily versus 3,000 produced), per, Gjenge Makers plans to scale up.
By addressing Kenya’s 182,500 tonnes of annual plastic waste, per a 2021 UNEP report, Matee’s innovation supports sustainable development and circular economy goals.
