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She Built Bricks from Trash & Makes $800K a Year

Nzambi Matee, a Kenyan engineer, transforms plastic waste into eco-friendly bricks stronger than concrete. Her startup, Gjenge Makers, recycles tons of plastic daily, generates $800K annually, and champions environmental and social change.

SMALL START, GIANT LEAPSTARTUP TO STANDOUT

Thrive Vision

5/5/20251 min read

Plastic Waste: From Crisis to Opportunity

In Nairobi, Kenya, over 500 tons of plastic waste are generated daily, clogging rivers and poisoning ecosystems. For Nzambi Matee, an engineer with a degree in material science, this wasn’t just a problem—it was raw material waiting to be repurposed.

In 2017, Matee founded Gjenge Makers, a startup that converts discarded plastic into durable construction bricks. “Plastic is indestructible. Why not use that strength to build something?” she says.

The Birth of a Sustainable Solution

Matee began experimenting in her mother’s backyard, melting plastic bottles and bags in a rudimentary oven. She mixed the molten plastic with sand to create bricks that are:

5x stronger than concrete
Heat-resistant
Cheaper than traditional bricks

After months of trial and error, she perfected the formula, using high-density polyethylene (HDPE) from milk jugs and shampoo bottles.

Scaling Impact: From Backyard to Factory

Today, Gjenge Makers operates a factory producing 1,500 bricks daily, recycling over 50% of Nairobi’s plastic waste. The bricks come in vibrant colors—red, blue, green—made by adding natural dyes.

Key milestones:

2019: Won the UN Young Champion of the Earth award.
2021: Partnered with Kenya’s government to build affordable housing.
2023: Expanded to Uganda and Rwanda, recycling 10,000+ tons of plastic annually.

Beyond Profit: Building Communities

Gjenge employs 120+ women and youth, paying 3x the minimum wage. “We’re not just cleaning the environment; we’re empowering people,” Matee explains. The company also donates bricks to schools and hospitals.

Challenges and Vision

High machinery costs and plastic supply chain gaps remain hurdles. Matee aims to automate production and launch a “Plastic for Bricks” exchange program, where communities trade waste for building materials.

Key Takeaway: Innovation thrives where others see waste. Matee’s story proves that sustainability and profitability can coexist, transforming trash into treasure.