In a crowded informal settlement, life moves fast. Narrow alleys are lined with small shops selling everyday essentials. One such shop, a simple roadside kiosk, sells kerosene to families who depend on it for cooking. Next door, a bar stays lively, with customers coming and going, leaving behind empty glass bottles.
Some of these bottles get a second life. People buying kerosene without a container pick one from the pile and repurpose it for storage. Without realizing it, the shopkeeper helps keep some of the waste off the streets. But not all bottles find a use—many end up tossed into overflowing bins, scattered in alleyways, or buried in dumpsites. This is just one example of how waste or glass waste finds its way into the dump.
This is where the Chilo-Ber Maker Movement steps in. To most people, these discarded bottles are just trash, but to the initiative, they’re full of potential.
Chilo-Ber Maker Movement: Waste to Value Ecosystem
Frankline Ochola, the man behind the movement, is a glass artisan. His initiative, the Chilo-Ber Maker Movement, borrows its name from the Luo dialect, where it means “dirt is good.”
Themed by the phrase “The more the stains, the more you learn,” he sifts through waste in search of value.
“Traditionally, the phrase carries a stigma associated with poverty and desperation. But I see it differently. I believe a maker is not just someone looking for survival, but a visionary who understands that waste is simply a resource waiting to be transformed,” he comments.
The movement is more than just repurposing—it’s about creating a transitional ecosystem where discarded materials gain new life and others are empowered to see the potential in waste.
Frankline Ochola is a glass artisan. His initiative, the Chilo-Ber Maker Movement, borrows its name from the Luo dialect, where it means “dirt is good.” Photo Courtesy
From Plastic to Glass: A Strategic Shift
His journey into eco-preneurship began in 2018 when he left his job as a workshop technician at Gearbox Kenya. Gearbox Kenya is a company that supports the development of hardware-based innovation, providing engineers and entrepreneurs access to tools and technical expertise needed for prototyping and product development.
While working there, Ochola noticed an irony—imported plastic filament, a raw material used in 3D printing, was retailing at Ksh 30,000 per kilogram, yet plastic waste was everywhere. “It didn’t make sense that we were exporting raw materials which lay everywhere only to buy them back at a premium,” he recalls. That realization led him to experiment with plastic recycling, researching how to recycle it best together with other waste.
Glass, however, proved to have greater market potential. Unlike plastic, which has fluctuating market demand, glass has a stable recycling market. Moreover, glass can be endlessly recycled without losing quality, making it a sustainable resource.
Realizing this, Ochola transitioned from plastic to glass recycling and upcycling. He began transforming discarded bottles into functional, elegant pieces. What started as a small project gradually grew into a full-fledged business.
The Art of Glass Transformation
Ochola’s process is meticulous. In his small workshop, bottles transform. First, they are cleaned and sorted. Then comes the cutting—a process Ochola has perfected using a handcrafted wooden glass cutter and a candle-cutting technique that relies on controlled expansion and contraction.
“Form One chemistry,” he jokes, referring to the simple but effective science behind his method.
“After scoring the bottle, I heat the line over a candle flame and then dip it in cold water,” he explains.
“The sudden temperature change causes a clean break along the line.”
Ocholla’s handcrafted wooden glass cutter makes a marking on the glass before the cutting.This technique is effective because it allows for precise control over where the glass breaks, ensuring minimal waste and a cleaner finish compared to mechanical cutting methods. Additionally, it does not require expensive machinery, making it accessible and sustainable for small-scale artisans like Ochola.
This method, known as thermal shock separation, works because glass expands when heated and contracts rapidly when cooled. The temperature difference weakens the scored line, making the bottle split cleanly at the mark.
This technique is effective because it allows for precise control over where the glass breaks, ensuring minimal waste and a cleaner finish compared to mechanical cutting methods. Additionally, it does not require expensive machinery, making it accessible and sustainable for small-scale artisans like Ochola.
Once separated, the cut edges are still rough and jagged. To make them safe for use, Ochola smoothens them by sanding or polishing, ensuring they are even and free of sharp edges. Only then are the pieces ready to be repurposed into vases, cereal bowls, lampshades, drinking glasses, or other functional items.
But for Ochola, the process is about more than craftsmanship—it’s about changing perceptions. “People don’t see the value in waste,” he says. “I have to show them that glass isn’t just trash—it’s potential.”
The recycled glass is repurposed into vases, cereal bowls, lampshades, drinking glasses, or other functional items. Photo Courtesy
The Environmental and Economic Impact of Glass Recycling
Glass waste is a growing environmental concern. Unlike organic waste, glass does not decompose, meaning that every discarded bottle remains in the environment indefinitely unless it is recycled. In landfills, glass waste takes up space and poses hazards, while broken glass on streets and dumpsites creates safety risks.
Kenya generates an estimated 204,000 metric tons of glass waste annually, with urban areas being the biggest contributors. However, only about 30% of this glass is recovered for recycling and reuse. The low recovery rate is due to inadequate waste segregation at the source, limited incentives, and a lack of public awareness.
According to Bottle Logistics East Africa, middlemen in the value chain and the lack of formal waste management systems continue to hinder effective recycling. Yet, recycling glass plays a crucial role in sustainability—reducing CO2 emissions and preserving essential raw materials like sand, limestone, and soda ash used in glass production.
“It’s not just about making beautiful products,” says Ochola. “The more we recycle, the less we extract from the earth.” By cutting down on the need for raw material extraction and energy-intensive manufacturing, glass recycling helps minimize environmental degradation.
Beyond the environmental benefits, Ochola sees recycling as an economic opportunity. “The circular economy isn’t just about reducing waste—it’s about creating jobs, empowering communities, and fostering innovation,” he says.
To elevate his designs, Ochola collaborates with wood craftsmen and artists, incorporating wooden bases, carvings, and intricate designs into his glassware. This fusion of materials makes his pieces not just functional but also uniquely artistic.
Ochola sieving through a dump in search of glass.A raw material for his venture where he recycles them to make functional ware.Photo Courtesy
The Role of Technology in Circular Economy Solutions
Technology is at the heart of Ochola’s approach to sustainability. Exposure to 3D printing broadened his perspective on repurposing waste, inspiring him to think beyond traditional recycling methods. “Technology has been a game-changer even in areas like healthcare, where 3D printing is used to create prosthetic limbs,” he notes.
Yet, despite technological advancements, infrastructure limitations remain a hurdle. While there may be technological tools that can aid in waste management and recycling, the absence of sufficient resources, such as innovation hubs or platforms for sharing knowledge, makes it difficult for many people, especially young people in underserved areas, to take full advantage of those advancements.
Ochola emphasizes that knowledge-sharing is vital to overcoming these barriers. “I was lucky to be part of the Science and Technology Park Fablab at the University of Nairobi, where I gained hands-on experience. But many young people don’t have access to such platforms. If we had more innovation hubs, we’d see more young minds solving real-world problems.”
Samples of end products Ochola curates from glass waste.Photo courtesy
Ochola has also noticed a shift in how people consume information. “We don’t read as much as we used to. People prefer watching content,” he observes. This shift has influenced his approach in knowledge sharing, believing that sustainability efforts must leverage visual storytelling to reach a broader audience. “If we want to educate communities about waste management, we need to create engaging content that would likely resonate with them,” he concludes.
To optimize efficiency, he integrates digital tools like Google Sheets and Maps to track waste collection and resource allocation. “At the bottom of the value chain, data is crucial. It helps us understand where materials are coming from and how best to use them,” he explains.
The Eco-preneurial Mindset
For Ochola, eco-preneurship isn’t just a business model—it’s a way of thinking. The Chilo-Ber Movement isn’t just about recycling glass; it’s a diverse solution that promotes environmental and social impact through nature-based solutions.
“At the end of the day, waste is only waste if we let it be. But if we reimagine its potential, we can create something truly valuable,” he concludes.
