According to various estimates, between 19 and 23 million tonnes of plastic accumulate in the world’s waters each year, much of which ends up on beaches. By recovering and recycling this material, a company is fighting against pollution.
The growing scourge of plastic waste will be at the heart of negotiations on February 28 in Nairobi, Kenya, at the United Nations Environment Assembly. Governments will be urged to agree on a framework to reduce this pollution “from source to ocean”, as well as to develop recycling techniques that already exist. Because less than 10% of plastic is recycled and the majority ends up clogging landfills and oceans.
The fine sand beaches, like those of Kilifi, south of the Kenyan coast bathed by the Indian Ocean, are not spared. But for more than a decade, a company has found a smart way to deal with pollution by transforming trash, including flip flops, these light and inexpensive sandals popular around the world, into toys and decorative objects.
12 photos of Simon Maina illustrate this AFP report.