An Enthusiast from Kenya Learned to Use Plastic Waste to Make Bricks and Paving Stones Stronger than Concrete

  • Jan 03, 2022
An Enthusiast from Kenya Learned to Use Plastic Waste to Make Bricks and Paving Stones Stronger than Concrete

A girl from Kenya decided on an experiment that brought her fame. She was able to develop the composition of the mortar for paving stones (paving slabs), bricks and manhole covers made of plastic. Nzambi Mati managed to create a material 5-7 times stronger than concrete and even received a UN prize.

An energetic enthusiast from Kenya has developed a unique formulation of extra strong bricks and paving stones. | Photo: greenqueen.com.hk.
An energetic enthusiast from Kenya has developed a unique formulation of extra strong bricks and paving stones. | Photo: greenqueen.com.hk.
An energetic enthusiast from Kenya has developed a unique formulation of extra strong bricks and paving stones. | Photo: greenqueen.com.hk.

An extraordinary girl from Kenya, Nzambi Matee, worked for several years as an engineer in one of the oil companies in Kenya, but in 2017. decided to quit not only to organize her own company, Gjenge Makers, but to develop a new method of creating paving stones. With an excellent understanding of materials science and being inventive, she spent some time selecting components, their quality and quantity, before starting to make prototypes. In the backyard of her parents' house, Nzambi, along with several friends, conducted experiments with different types of plastic and sand, changing the ratio and size of the crushed fractions.

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The mountains of plastic brought in by the waters of the Indian Ocean have inspired the development of a practical and helpful way for the country to tackle pollution.
The mountains of plastic brought in by the waters of the Indian Ocean have inspired the development of a practical and helpful way for the country to tackle pollution.

Nzambi nevertheless took plastic as a basis, which is absolutely incorrectly disposed of, because it can reuse, which will allow cleaning landfills, and all the land from material that does not decompose centuries. Plastic is a material that is misused and misunderstood. The potential is enormous, but its 'life' after use can really be a disaster if not taken action, ”said Nzambi Mati.

Nzambi's development was recognized as the best on the African continent, which allowed her to go to the USA for an internship (Nzambi Mati with her associates, Kenya).
Nzambi's development was recognized as the best on the African continent, which allowed her to go to the USA for an internship (Nzambi Mati with her associates, Kenya).

Interesting fact: Thanks to her initiative, Nzambi Mati, after the first research, became the winner of the competition for African continent Earth, held by the United Nations Environmental Coordination Program Wednesday (UNEP). First Prize "Provides seed funding and mentoring to promising environmentalists who are solving the world's most pressing problems." From all over the world, only 7 people under the age of 30 are selected annually, which further emphasizes the outstanding abilities of the girl.

The victory earned her a scholarship to study social entrepreneurship in the United States. During her stay, the girl got the opportunity to study new technologies and do research in the laboratories of the University of Colorado at Boulder. It was there that she perfected her method and learned how to design equipment for the production of paving stones and bricks.

Nzambi herself controls all processes at the Gjenge Makers enterprise, which she created (Kenya).
Nzambi herself controls all processes at the Gjenge Makers enterprise, which she created (Kenya).

Returning home in 2018, Nzambi Mati started her own company, Gjenge Makers, dedicated to making sustainable, alternative and affordable building products. The girl said that she receives some of the plastic waste from packaging factories for free, some types purchases plastic from waste recycling companies or people collecting the right plastic on the roadside or coast.

The correct ratio of the three types of plastics and sand make it possible to make a durable building material practically and debris.
The correct ratio of the three types of plastics and sand make it possible to make a durable building material practically and debris.

According to the editors of Novate.ru, recycled materials are used, which is a combination of three types of plastics - high-density polyethylene (milk bottles, cans with cleaning, detergents, chemicals, etc.), low density polyethylene (bags, bags, awnings, geofiber) and polypropylene (ropes, lids, buckets, disposable tableware). Ordinary sand is added to the shredded plastic, then it is sent to the extruder, which mixes all the components at very high temperatures, and then the material is molded into a press.

Facing bricks and paving slabs come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors.
Facing bricks and paving slabs come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors.

After that, the resulting products, the strength of which is 5-7 times higher than the strength of concrete, can be use for paving, social housing, sewer covers etc. Innovative material adapted for use in asphalt pavers, making the paving process easier dirt roads at Mukuru Skills Training Center, schoolyards, sidewalks of public places and private backyards.

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Particularly durable and colorful paving slabs will be useful both for urban needs and in a private household.
Particularly durable and colorful paving slabs will be useful both for urban needs and in a private household.

Remarkable: Over a one and a half year period of existence, Gjenge Makers ltd has managed to recycle more than 20 tons of plastic waste. Thanks to the startup, the caring girl managed to create not only an innovative building material, the cost of which is much lower than any other ($ 7.7. for 1 sq. m of canvas), but also to organize 112 jobs for low-skilled groups of the population, including garbage collectors, women and youth.

Fortunately, there are many inventive people on our planet who strive not only to clear the earth of plastic, but also to help people find a roof over their heads. Colombian enthusiasts, for example, for surprisingly durable, strong and warm building materials
they use not only plastic, but also the husks of coffee beans.
A source:
https://novate.ru/blogs/230821/60257/

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