Waste recycling initiative on the up
Karen Ndlovu
BULAWAYO-Under a comatose economy taking its toll on most citizens and businesses, a young man born and bred in Bulawayo is determined to take his waste recycle business to greater heights.
Qinisani Ndlovu (34), founder of UMhlaba Waste Management (UWM), is revelling in turning waste into gold.
After four years of researching on plastic, Ndlovu decided to begin producing gems out of discarded plastic in December 2021. Between February and May 2022 his company collected 0.1 tonnes of plastic bottles from three residential areas in the city. They have managed to recycle 6.4kgs of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) plastic into usable everyday goods.
Ndlovu said he is determined to take care of Bulawayo and at the same time leave a legacy against all odds.
“It is my mission to leave a legacy. Third world countries are synonymous with problems but I choose to see them as opportunities. Waste has and will continue to be part of life…recycling is a sustainable business that allows one to interact with people, making the planet livable while making a profit,” said Ndlovu.
UWM has made a plastic shredder from scratch and is in the process of building three more machines that will allow it to create more complex products at speed.
“Our plastic shredder turns bottles into small pieces of plastic which we can wash and create different products from. We have been able to create plastic lumber and this has enabled us to produce tissue holders, two seater benches and pen holders,” said Ndlovu.
Ndlovu said his team could do with more technical expertise. A lack of appreciation of waste as a resource among residents and stakeholders has been a set back for the company.
“I would like to get our team to undergo adequate training in recycling waste and the green economy,” he said.
Ndlovu added that, in order to scale up, his company needs funding partners.
” Collaboration is definitely top of our agenda, so getting our name out there would be a starting point. We would also welcome funding from wellwishers,” he said.
UMhlaba Waste Management specializes in High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), which is generally used to manufacture food and beverage containers, cleaning product bottles, cutting boards, and some shoe parts.
