2021-02-15 11:27:11
Before launching his company, Thread Makers, Nzambi Matee worked as a data analyst and engineer in the oil industry. After seeing the abundance of plastic waste on the streets of Nairobi, she decided to quit her job and set up a small laboratory in her mother’s garden, testing combinations of sand and plastic to see if these materials pollutants might be transformed into building bricks. Matee eventually earned a scholarship to study in the materials lab at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she eventually developed a prototype for the machine that now produces the textured bricks.
Made from a combination of plastic and sand, the pavers have a melting point above 350°C and are more durable than their concrete counterparts. Matee and his team source much of the raw product from factories and recyclers, and sometimes for free, which allows the company to reduce the price of the product and make it affordable for schools and homeowners. So far, Gjenge Makers has recycled over 20 tonnes of plastic and created 112 jobs in the community. A real ecological feat!
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#Plastic #Waste #turned #Bricks #Solid #Concrete
