♻️ My Journey at Eco Brixs: How Plastic Waste Helped Me Build a Business and a Better Life

Margaret with the plastic she has collected

In Kigamba, Masaka City, Namawanda Margaret starts each morning with purpose — sorting sacks, pulling on her gloves, and heading out to collect plastic waste. What some see as rubbish, Margaret sees as opportunity.

“People say I deal in garbage,” Margaret smiles. “But this garbage has paid school fees, bought food, and even started my business. To me, it’s gold.”

💪 Turning Waste into Worth

At Eco Brixs, collectors like Margaret earn UGX 5,500 per kilogram of plastic waste. On average, she collects around 9 kg each week, earning UGX 198,000 (≈$55) per month.

“When I walk to Eco Brixs with my sack, I feel proud—because I’m doing something for myself and my daughter.”

Through her consistent effort, Margaret has turned plastic waste into stability — and the start of something bigger.

🔥 A Business Built on Bottles

With her Eco Brixs income, Margaret took a bold step: she started a charcoal business. What began with UGX 100,000 in savings has grown into a reliable source of income.

Her charcoal sales bring in UGX 40,000 weekly, or about UGX 160,000 per month, bringing her total monthly income to nearly UGX 358,000 (≈$100).

“This business gives me more stability,” she says. “I’m not just surviving now — I’m building something.”

Her next goal? To expand into briquettes and clean cookstoves, helping reduce deforestation and household air pollution while creating even greater environmental and social impact.

“If I can help people cook cleaner and live better, I’ll be proud.”

💚 Why She Does It

Margaret’s greatest motivation is her daughter, Amina. Every sack of plastic, every charcoal sale, is for her.

“I wake up early so she doesn’t have to go hungry,” Margaret says. “She knows I work hard for her — she even helps me sort sometimes!”

Amina dreams of becoming a nurse.

“She says she wants to fix people’s hearts,” Margaret smiles. “I tell her, ‘You’ve already fixed mine.’”

Thanks to Margaret’s efforts, Amina now goes to school with her lunch packed and her fees paid on time. Her smile is her mother’s fuel.

🌱 Looking Forward

Margaret isn’t stopping here. She’s mentoring other women in Kigamba who want to start collecting plastics — hoping to form a small team that supports one another.

“It’s not just about money—it’s about hope. Eco Brixs gave me that. Now I want to pass it on.”