Ugandans transform plastic waste into paving stones

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Plastic waste, a growing pain in Uganda’s capital Kampala, mostly comes from consuming beverages in plastic bottles. But now, a better way to dispose of the waste has been devised: Turning the plastic bottles into paving stones.

It takes about 45 minutes to turn plastic into pavers. The makers said they are durable and waterproof.

Plastic paving stones are increasingly becoming a top choice for builders. Those who have used them said it’s much cheaper than ordinary concrete paving stones.

“The beauty with these pavers is that they do not break easily but the concrete pavers break when building,” said builder Everest Tumwebaze.

Environmentalists have also welcomed the initiative, but said more needs to be done.

“This initiative is very good for us because we are getting rid of plastic waste. We really hope and pray that our government enforces the banning of plastic waste so that the future generation inherits a sustainable environment,” Paul Ssenkungu, an environmentalist, said.

In neighboring Kenya, the government has banned plastics. But although Uganda has passed its own rule against plastic, it has not yet implemented.

Lax enforcement means most drainage channels in Kampala City get clogged with plastics. This causes occasional flash floods in the city whenever it rains. This initiative could provide a solution. However, limited technology is still holding back the makers.

For young entrepreneurs, the booming local construction industry is a huge opportunity to pave the way to a sustainable construction business.

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