Nzambi Matee is the founder of Gjenge Makers, a startup based in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital. Her business transforms plastic waste into bricks that are five to seven times stronger than concrete. In addition to establishing the company, Matee designed the machines that manufacture the bricks. She sources plastic in low and high-density polyethylene and polypropylene from local packaging plants for free to produce durable building materials. The materials she sources are waste that others cannot process anymore or recycle. Therefore, Matee prevents tonnes of plastic waste from ending up in landfills across the country. She hopes to expand her business to add a bigger manufacturing line, Good News Networking reports.

Matee said in an interview that she was “tired of being on the sidelines” while civil servants struggled with the mounting piles of plastic waste in Kenya. Hence, Gjenge Makers was born. Her company produces a variety of different paving stones after the plastic polymer is heated and mixed with sand.

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