More than 200 youths in Kisumu have ventured into business of recycling waste materials.
Bamato environmental and sanitation project coordinator Valentine Odhiambo said the youths are tasked with collecting waste materials, sorting and recycling to produce different by-products.
Odhiambo said converting waste materials is for the betterment of environmental value in the Lakeside City.
He said most of the by-products range from plastic wares to poles that are durable and not prone to termites consumption.
He said the main aim of the group is to reduce afforestation in the lake basin and urged the locals to embrace waste made poles for building.
Speaking on Wednesday during an exhibition to showcase waste by-products in Nyalenda Slums, Odhiambo said environmental conservation needs a concerted effort.
“We are creating jobs to young people through Bamato which is directly situated within Nyalenda slums,” said Odhiambo.
He announced that they are working closely with the county government to ensure that all plastic wastes is collected and taken for recycling at the Nyalenda plant.
The exhibition was organised by Pamoja Trust that strives to explore market opportunities for the wastes' by-products.
The trust programme officer Sam Odero said the end result products are many but lack of access to markets might derail the effort of the youths.
Officer Odero said they have brought in different partners to buy the by-products they get from the recycled wastes.