A plastic collection centre.[Photo:nation.co.ke]A group of Makongeni youths has found a new way to keep themselves busy while earning a living out of collecting and selling used plastic materials.Under the umbrella of Makongeni Youths Initiative (MYI) the youths collect plastics in the estate as well as from the dump sites and sell them to plastic recycling companies in Thika and Nairobi.The chairman of the group David Mwaura was speaking in Makongeni today on Saturday in a youth meeting. He has said that most of his members are former alcoholics from the area who came together after a crackdown on illicit brews was mounted."We had to find something to do as the brews we were waking up to were no more. That is how we ended up with this initiative," Mwaura said.He says that their main source of plastics is Kang'oki dumpsite in the area and surrounding estates."The destroying of the brews was a blessing in disguise. Today all of us 18 members of this group have a new life," he said. The Diploma in Food Science graduate says that they have three clients they sell their plastics to once they have gathered a sizeable quantity."We never thought we could make a living from plastics till we started it," said Mwaura.Is there a newsworthy accident, incident or event happening in Kiambu County that you want Hivisasa to cover? Tell us what is happening by Joining this group, and have it published. https://chat.whatsapp.com/J0ad2BauQb68q56b2NyPOW

Do you have a lead on a newsworthy story? Share news tips with us here at Hivisasa!