An inspiring piece from Konbini, on Olamide Babajide, founder of Pearl Recycling, who is taking on the challenge of upcycling solid waste products into useful furniture and decor items. She’s also a Tony Elumelu Foundation Fellow and winner, WIMBIZ Impact investment competition.
Launched in 2014, Pearl Recycling is a social-oriented organization that takes solid waste products – like tyres, bottles, newspapers and plastic cutlery – and transforms them into home and office furniture (much like this DIY project). The organization also employs young Nigerians to gather these waste products; simultaneously helping to curb unemployment and clean up the city. About what inspired her to create Pearl Recycling, Olamide said on her website:
“The air we breathe is becoming more toxic and flooding is becoming incessant. And government policies are not working. So, we found a way out. We understand that it’s better to preach sustainability from the angle of empowerment – and that is exactly what we do at Pearl Recycling.”
You can learn more about Pearl Recycling on their website. and view some of their media features here.
