♻️ From Braids to Bottles: How Namulondo Grace Found Wealth in Waste

At 53, Namulondo Grace had spent years running a small salon in Bukunda, Masaka, styling women’s hair with patience and care. But the work was unpredictable. Some weeks brought little to no income, leaving her frustrated and exhausted.

“I loved working with people’s hair,” Grace recalls. “But it was too hectic. I could spend days waiting for a customer, and at the end of the week I would sometimes go home with nothing. That life was exhausting.”

A New Opportunity 💚

Everything changed one afternoon when Mr. Lumu John introduced her to plastic collection. He explained how to gather different types of plastics, negotiate prices, and take part in a growing circular economy.

At first, Grace hesitated. Could collecting bottles and jerricans really be better than running her salon? But soon, Eco Brixs offered her space to set up a Recycling Hub — no rent and instant pay for every kilogram delivered.

Local people would bring her plastic, she'd weigh it and then pay them for it. Then, she'd sell the plastic in bulk to Eco Brixs, so she could earn from the programme as well.

“When I heard that Eco Brixs pays instantly once you deliver plastics, I thought, this is what I have been missing. No waiting, no begging customers. Just work and get paid.”

Turning Waste into Opportunity

Curiosity turned into action. Grace, with the help of local people, collected 2.5 tons of plastic in a month, earning more than she had ever made in her salon—even in her best month.

“I was shocked when I saw how much I had earned,” she says. “It is more than I ever made in the salon. I felt like my life had started again.”

The earnings have not only restored her confidence but also sparked new ambition. Grace is now exploring expanding her business with additional collection sites, helping more people earn from plastic collection whilst growing her income.

Grace and her community gather 2.5 tonnes of plastic waste - enough to fill an Eco Brixs truck!

A Future Built from Plastic

Grace’s journey from hairdresser to waste collector may seem unconventional, but it reflects a growing wave of women in Uganda rewriting what livelihood can look like - and more than just caregivers for family and children. Where others see trash, she sees opportunity, dignity, and a sustainable future.