🌏 In the bustling streets of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, one man's trash is literally becoming another man's treasure! Meet Has Kea, a 41-year-old entrepreneur with a mission to clean up his city—one plastic bottle at a time.
Every day, Kea and his team collect around 5,000 discarded plastic bottles, turning them into sturdy brooms that are sweeping the nation—pun intended! 🧹 They've transformed over 40 tonnes of plastic waste in just 11 months. Talk about making an impact!
Using a simple yet ingenious process, the bottles are spun into plastic strips, softened in hot water, and then crafted into bristles sewn onto bamboo sticks. The result? Brooms that are not just eco-friendly but also tougher than your average brush.
\"This broom is quite solid, not easy to break,\" says Suon Kosal, a 26-year-old Buddhist monk whose temple recently bought 80 of them. 🙏
Kea buys these empty bottles from trash collectors and garbage depots, providing income opportunities for locals. He’s confident about the longevity of his business, thanks to the seemingly endless supply of plastic waste.
\"This also helps reduce pollution and encourages people to collect plastic bottles to sell to us at a higher price, which in turn could earn them a better living,\" Kea explains. 💡
He's even open to others joining the movement. The more people upcycling, the cleaner our planet gets! 🌿
In a city that produces up to 38,000 tonnes of waste each day—with single-use plastics making up a fifth of that—Kea's initiative is a beacon of hope. It's proof that with a bit of creativity and a lot of heart, we can turn the tide on pollution. 💚
So next time you think about tossing that plastic bottle, remember: it could become part of something amazing!
Reference(s):
Cambodian 'upcycler' turns tonnes of plastic bottles into brooms
cgtn.com
