Uganda is residence to over 1,8 million refugees, making it one of many high 5 internet hosting international locations on the planet. The 48 refugee settlements within the nation are largely overpopulated they usually exist in areas experiencing the worst types of environmental degradation.
Rising up within the Kyaka II Settlement, Ronald Mugaiga skilled the implications first-hand, to the purpose of contracting cholera when he was younger. This left him with a little bit likelihood of survival however right this moment, he’s the founding father of Ecomak Recyclers, a startup that’s constructed to enhance waste administration throughout refugee settlements, encourage native companies to have a extra sustainable life-style, and promote the round economic system.
“Our mission is to assist the neighborhood by turning waste into reusable building supplies,” Mugaiga says.
Ecomak has developed a chemical-free and energy-saving exclusion know-how referred to as organo-technology that helps to extend the melting strategy of plastic whereas retaining the bodily parameters of the plastic. The plastic is then used to make bricks and blocks.
“The bricks are two instances stronger than typical bricks,” notes Mugaiga.” They’ve zero breakages as soon as used and they’re long-lasting and sturdy.
Essentially the most compelling worth proposition for using Ecomak bricks is the truth that the bricks are 30% cheaper than conventional bricks. Actual property and building firms are the startup’s largest clients.There’s a 700 million greenback building market in Uganda. Ecomak intends to seize simply 1% of this large market within the subsequent 5 years.
“Our objective is to seize markets in most of Uganda within the subsequent yr and develop to the remainder of East Africa in 2-3 years,” says Ronald.
Ecomak has created over 100 jobs for underserved ladies and youths within the communities of Kyaka II refugee settlement. Whereas bettering incomes by the alternate of plastic waste for money, they’ve managed to gather and recycle over 30 tons of waste monthly. The affect the corporate is making on a poverty alleviation and environmental degree is unprecedented and the world will definitely be higher due to it!
