Gulu gets jobs and crashes plastics problem via the Takataka recycling group

Takataka Plastics, a social enterprise recycling plastics in Gulu City, is helping fight unemployment and garbage troubles.

Started in in 2020, Takataka employs 35 people who recycle plastics and turn them to wall tiles, face-shields and bar-stools.

Peter Okwoko, the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer at the firm, located in the Gulu Senior Quarters, Laroo-Pece Division, said their main aim was to address plastic waste pollution and youth unemployment.

“We started operations in 2020. Before that, we did some research about plastic waste management around the country,” Okwoko, a former lecturer of Computer Science at Gulu University, said.

They had found a large potential in polyethylene terephthalate and PET plastics waste – most of which comes via water and soda bottles — which they now recycle and make wall-tiles, chairs and other related utilities.

They sell their bar-stools at Shs 60,000-85,000 apiece. A square meter of wall-tiles goes for Shs 30,000.

To make the bar-tools, they use wooden frames to make it stand. Some metal pipes may be employed but then the seat is made purely from recycled plastics.

“We combine recycled plastic with either wood or metal because people are not yet very familiar with recycled things,” Okwoko said.

To make work easier, they recently developed a machine to alter the chemical properties of the plastics they use so they can turn these into any form they want.

Their aim is to recycle at least 600 kilograms per day. If they rise above that level, it will give them much-needed income to grow and expand.

Some building contractors have welcomed their materials, using them to strengthen their properties.

They are durable, is the feedback they get from some of these contractors.

“Our target is to produce nine tons of plastic tiles every month,” Okwoko said in an interview.

“We are increasing our collections and will eventually have community members see and enjoy value from the plastics they collect. All they have to do is remove the bottle caps and labels,” he said.

Lambert Lamex Akena, the Gulu City Deputy Speaker said the Takataka group has helped them create jobs and clean the environment. But there is an urgent need to create more awareness among the general public so they can learn how to properly dispose of waste.

“You find people dropping the plastic bottles outside of the containers. There is an urgent need for awareness through on media so that people dispose of plastics properly,” he said.

Takataka has established over 50 plastic banks and large containers to collect these. Most are at institutions such as markets, hospitals, schools, bars and restaurants.

They routinely visit these to collect what would have piled up, usually after a few days as plastic usage is widespread.

Takataka gets its funding from mostly non-business operations such as innovation competitions organized by foreign groups. They also get some grants from individuals – mostly foreigners who have already established the benefits of removing deadly plastics from the open environment.

The group recently received Shs 30 million from Gulu City Council, Okwoko said.