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Meet 8 Young Founders Turning Trash Into Cash | World Wide Waste | Insider Business

Business Insider・25 minutes read

Young people globally are addressing the trash issue, with innovative solutions like Kenyan bricks made from recycled plastic. Entrepreneurs are finding ways to profit from waste, showcasing individual impact in waste management like recycling millions of beer bottles into sand.

Insights

  • Young individuals worldwide are actively engaging in innovative solutions for waste management, such as creating bricks from recycled plastic and coconut shells, showcasing the power of individual initiatives in addressing environmental challenges.
  • Entrepreneurs are exploring profitable opportunities within the waste industry, demonstrating the potential for economic growth while simultaneously contributing to sustainability efforts through innovative practices like upcycling plastic and skateboard materials.

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Recent questions

  • How are plastic bricks made from recycled materials?

    Plastic bricks are made by mixing melted plastic with sand to form a dough-like material, which is then heated to high temperatures. The mixture is weighed and squeezed into bricks using a hydraulic press, which are then cooled and hardened before being stacked for sale.

  • What is the purpose of developing cooking fuel from coconut shells?

    The purpose of developing cooking fuel from coconut shells is to provide a sustainable alternative to wood-based charcoal, thus preventing deforestation in Sierra Leone. This cooking fuel is made by carbonizing coconut waste, adding water and a secret ingredient, and molding it into briquettes for use.

  • How are broken skateboards upcycled into new products?

    Broken skateboards are upcycled into various products by removing grip tape, clear coat, and graphics, then stacking and gluing sections together to make bowls. Each bowl is made up of 20 sections, clamped for 24 hours, cured for a few days, shaped on a lathe, and made unique with different veneers and dyes.

  • What is the significance of recycling beer bottles into sand?

    Recycling beer bottles into sand showcases individual impact in waste management, as a woman in the United States has recycled 4 million beer bottles into sand. This process highlights the importance of finding creative solutions to reduce waste and promote sustainability on a personal level.

  • How has skateboarding evolved in terms of environmental consciousness?

    Skateboarding has evolved from negative stereotypes to mainstream acceptance, with skaters like Ryan Flynn recycling broken boards into new products. Ryan hopes his products inspire environmental consciousness, while the Pool brothers aim to encourage woodworking and skateboard recycling, showcasing a shift towards sustainability within the skateboarding community.

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Summary

00:00

Global Youth Innovate: Recycling Waste into Profit

  • Young people globally are addressing the trash issue, with Kenyan bricks made from recycled plastic paving roads.
  • In Sierra Leone, a paste from coconut shells is developed as sustainable cooking fuel by an 18-year-old after months of perfecting the recipe.
  • A woman in the United States has recycled 4 million beer bottles into sand, showcasing individual impact in waste management.
  • Entrepreneurs are innovating ways to profit from global waste, like melted plastic mixed with sand to form hard bricks.
  • A Nairobi company, Jijenge Makers, processes three types of single-use plastics into plastic bricks for roads.
  • Plastic waste sorting in Nairobi handles 10 metric tons monthly, with a worker operating the crusher for pulverizing.
  • The plastic and sand mixture is heated to high temperatures to form a dough-like material for making bricks.
  • Each lump of the mixture is weighed, with the hydraulic press squeezing nine bricks at a time.
  • Finished bricks cool to harden, with workers breaking off jagged edges before stacking them for sale.
  • A pallet of 400 plastic pavers can sell for up to $150, offering a cheaper alternative to concrete bricks.

18:52

Eco-friendly artisans transform waste into treasures.

  • Bronze has been weaving baskets for over a decade and is one of 11 full-time employees at the company.
  • Each basket takes approximately one and a half hours to complete.
  • It requires one meter of pipe to finish a planter and two meters for a laundry basket.
  • PVC was discovered by chemists in the 19th century and is used in construction, vinyl records, IV bags, and clothing.
  • PVC pipes can contain harmful additives like lead and cadmium, making recycling challenging.
  • Many large producers removed harmful elements from PVC pipes before 2015.
  • Mo and Michelle need pipes of a specific thickness for weaving, partnering with a pipe manufacturer for recycled pipes.
  • Alhaji developed a recipe for cooking fuel from coconut shells to prevent deforestation in Sierra Leone.
  • He collects coconut waste, carbonizes it, adds water and a secret ingredient, and molds it into briquettes.
  • Alhaji aims to convince people to use coconut briquettes instead of wood-based charcoal for cooking fuel.
  • The Pool brothers upcycle broken skateboards into various products like earrings, coffee tables, and bowls.
  • They collect broken boards, remove grip tape, clear coat, and graphics, then stack and glue sections to make bowls.
  • Each bowl takes 20 sections, clamped for 24 hours, cured for a few days, shaped on a lathe, and made unique by different veneers and dyes.
  • Skateboarding has evolved from negative stereotypes to mainstream acceptance, with skaters like Ryan Flynn also recycling boards into new products.
  • Ryan hopes his products inspire environmental consciousness, while the Pool brothers aim to encourage woodworking and skateboard recycling.
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