Some years ago, motor vehicle owners were dumping old tyres without knowing that they could recycle them to make other items that could be used for various purposes.
The effect of this has been environmental degradation through air pollution, especially when they are burnt as they are made up of petroleum products.
In Meru town at Makutano along the Meru-Nanyuki highway, Mr. Joshua Kilonzo, with more than ten years of experience in recycling old tyres, has pitched a camp by the roadside where he transforms the old material into reusable items.
He is the leader of a group of four people who help him in his daily work.
Mr. Kilonzo says he acquired the knowledge to recycle the tyres from his friend, who had employed him in Nairobi for similar work.
“He employed me for a short period of time, and later I managed to shift to Meru and start my own business.”
At the moment, I have employed four other men, and they spend their day here, where they get their daily bread,” said Mr. Kilonzo, adding that he usually pays them on a daily basis depending on the day’s earnings.
However, Mr. Kilonzo says that they have been facing some challenges on the basis of the availability of old rubber tyres, considering that nowadays motor vehicles are using steel-made tyres, which are not good for the work as compared to rubber ones.
“Some years back, we were recycling almost the whole tyre to make different items, but as of now, the only ones we are getting are steel tyres, which are not good for recycling because they contain a large amount of waste as compared to rubber ones,’’ added Kilonzo.
One of Mr. Kilonzo’s employees, Mr. Dominic Mumo, says that he is paid in wages and is able to take care of his family as required.
“I get a daily payment depending on the sales of the day, and I am able to take care of my family.”
“We make items like flower pots, ornaments, and rubber shoes, which we sell at Sh300 per pair; repair shoes and motor vehicles in some areas that require our knowledge; and also furniture like seats and beds, which we sell as low as Sh500 considering that we buy an old tyre for as low as Sh50,’’ said Mumo.
They also make mountings that are used to raise vehicles to prevent them from hitting the ground or bumps while in motion.
According to Mr. Kilonzo, the job has been self-fulfilling as he has been able to carry out his personal developments back at home, including taking his children to school.
On a bad day, Mr. Kilonzo makes at least Sh1500 after paying his employees as well as supplies.
By Elijah Kiramana and Dickson Mwiti
