Gjenge Makers: Nairobi's Plastic Waste Becomes Pavers Stronger Than Concrete

Founded by materials engineer Nzambi Matee, Gjenge Makers collects plastic waste rejected by Kenya's recycling plants and mixes it with sand to mould paving blocks that are markedly stronger than standard concrete equivalents. The Nairobi factory processes roughly 10 to 25 tonnes of plastic waste every week and can produce around 3,000 pavers a day, though demand still runs far ahead of supply. Beyond diverting plastic from landfills and illegal dumpsites, the business has become a source of steady income for waste collectors and factory workers, with more than 120 families supported directly through the enterprise. Matee's work earned her the UN Environment Programme's Young Champion of the Earth award for Africa in 2020.