Women turn waste into ‘money’

Many women in some parts of the country are smiling all the way to the bank owing to them collecting plastic waste which they sell to plastic recycling company.

A plastic recycling entrepreneur Lilian Makava spoke to Zim Morning Post saying they have empowered most women through plastic  waste collection.

“We are empowering most women through buying from them waste plastics that we are recycling in our business,” said Makava.

She said at a cost of 25 cents per kg, many women are making a living out of these plastics.

“Many of our waste collectors are earning a living through selling waste plastic to us and now they can afford to pay their rentals and cover other day-to-day necessities such as food and sending their children to schools.

“We work with waste collectors and most of them are women from Mukuvisi, Mbare , Plumtree, and Tafara and recently I have heard feedback from people in where we conducted training on waste collection and separation who have expressed interest,” she said.

The women are said to have created Community Based Organisation where they collectively take the plastic waste and then when they sell it they share the money.

Makava   said their business had seen reduction in importation costs, falling by 40%-50% since it started working with CBOs.

“I can safely say I never thought my life will change for better after i lost my husband who was the sole breadwinner,”she said.