Helping the Environment, One Brick at a Time.

Helping+the+Environment%2C+One+Brick+at+a+Time.

Beth Thompson, Reporter

Have you ever noticed how many plastic bottles you see on the side of the road when you drive, well, anywhere? Nzambi Matee has noticed the same thing, and she decided to do something about it. Matee saw how the plastic was harming the environment in Kenya and knew there had to be another solution to this problem. With the recycling plant struggling to keep up with the problem, she decided to put the waste to better use. She came up with the genius idea to turn the plastic into bricks. So she set out on her journey, as a mechanical engineer and a self taught hardware designer you could say she knew what she was doing. She founded the company Gjenge Makers in 2016. The bricks are made from recycled plastic waste and sand. The bricks in question are considerably stronger and more durable than concrete. It’s not just the environment they are helping either. Gjenge Makers is providing more jobs and opportunities, helping people realize the potential of entrepreneurs, and work with youth programs. They are helping more and more people realize how important it is to keep the environment clean, and how engineering can help make those things possible. They are stationed in Nairobi, Kenya, and have given jobs to over 112 people.