EcoPost

Recycling post-consumer plastic waste into fence posts
Waste Management
Nairobi
Kenya

Nairobi generates over 2,400 tonnes of waste everyday, 20% of which is plastic. Lack of an organised system of waste management has resulted in crude dumping of the waste leading to heaps of garbage littering streets and open fields. Cleanup is left mostly to rain water. In addition, we currently face massive and rapid deforestation and destruction of our water catchment areas e.g. the Mau forest. A staggering 222,000 acres of the Mau forest has already been destroyed. Demand for timber for construction has soared due to the rapidly growing housing market. EcoPost is a manufacturing business involved in recycling plastic waste into aesthetic, durable and environmentally friendly fencing posts. The opportunity was born out of the fact that there is huge demand for environmentally friendly and sustainable fencing posts and waste plastic is hugely abundant and readily available.

Eco-Inclusive Impacts
EcoPost reduces plastic waste by creating fencing posts from recyclable post-consumer plastics. Thus, it creates income-generating opportunities for local youth and women.
  • Generating employment for youth and women, who collect, sort and clean plastic waste for reselling. By the 3rd year of operation, GBS Ltd.aims to create 24 direct and over 300 indirect jobs.

 

  • Recycling plastics, this initiative is ensuring 25 metric tonnes of plastic waste being permanently withdrawn from the environment every month.
  • Offering alternative fencing materials to wood and therefore, reduce deforestation.
  • Influencing Kenya WildlifeService to provide fencing posts for 10 of its wildlife parks will achieve significant earnings.
  • Reducing the cost of buyers due to low maintenance and replacement requirements, and enhanced durability.

Partners

EcoPost - Fencing Posts from Recycled Post-Consumer Waste Plastic. International and national NGOs have launched this unique initiative to recycle waste plastic into aesthetic, durable and environmentally-friendly fencing posts and consequently reduce plastic litter on streets and open fields. By providing an alternative fencing material to traditional wood, EcoPost contributes towards the conservation of forests.

GBS Ltd. is responsible for the general management,GBS Ltd. is responsible for the general management, production and marketing.

Enablis East Africa facilitates capacity building and offers financial support.

Safaricom Foundation provides access to provides access to finance in form of grants.

Benmah Engineering offers know-how on the production process of EcoPostsTM posts.

BiD Network provides entrepreneurial services, mentoring and business consulting.

WWF provides access to finance and market for the posts.

Umoja Youth Group Association supplies raw material for the post-production.