Okumu earns from recycled glass

Kampala, Uganda

Innovation and imagination have no limits and in this spirit, the proprietor of Bajjo Glass Industries Limited a company that recycles used glass was fostered to move ahead with making use of waste glass to produce unique items for Ugandans and the world at large.

It took Mr. Henry Okumu ten years to start to make his first batch in 2009 after several visits and trainings in USA, Germany, China, South Africa and Kenya.

“The business required an investment in form of skills and tools that were absent in Uganda and so I with other colleagues and my wife took on the initiative to train in recycling glass,” Okumu said.

An accountant by profession, Okumu’s greatest inspiration was the lack of a glass recycling industry and the ground training and skills that could enable him take off in 2009. Close to three years down the road, Okumu’s greatest challenge is the failure by Ugandans to appreciate art and not consider the price of the final product.

“Ugandans are too much price conscious who want too good things for so low a price,” Okumu adds.

“They would not mind walking away with a product that cost so low and will last for two months thanone that is priced higher with a guarantee of two years.”

How Glass is recycled

Okumu collects used glass from hospitals, hotels and restaurants among others, transports it to the workshop in Bajjo located 20km East of Kampala after which it is washed and sorted by the employees.

“The glass is then burnt in a furnace to between 2000-6000 degrees until it melts for the blowers to mould it into different items of different shapes and sizes,” said Okumu.

The final product is hand mould unlike other companies in the developed world that use machines making the output per given time higher than the latter.

“Waste glass can be recycled into cold glass or glass already worked on including furniture like glass tables, sand blasting and etching among others,” said Okumu.

He says hot glass includes the type that is hand blown into vases, goblets, tumbles, beer stains, flutes, decanter, oil bottles, candle and cake stands and jugs among others. Okumu has made up to 712 different products from recycled glass to also include trophies, plates, dishes and blocks that can be used as tiles and items for interior decoration.

“The industry is surviving but many people are still hesitant about purchasing recycled glass because it is hard to make it clear from its properties,” Okumu notes. “Most people cannot comprehend the fact that recycled glass contains different particles that can only be cleared with melting at higher temperatures that also require a lot of heat.”

At Bajjo glass Industries all items can be made in the all colors depending on the clients want.

Challenges

Okumu’s greatest challenge is the failure of the Ugandan community to value their own products and instead compare with the imported items.

“Many Ugandans are marveled by how glittering the product is but will always have no trust in what is made in Uganda while others would mind more about the price than how the product is made,” he said.

He says that Uganda’s art and glass market is still unexploited but limited to the few expatriates and those who appreciate good living and art.

“The capacity is still minimal for Okumu as currently he uses about 1 tone of glass waste per week yet with full capacity, he would take on up to four tones.

“Our capacity would be growing per time but the lack of skills and few furnaces coupled with stagnant market of one customer per month are slowing down the pace of growth,” Okumu said.

Prices

Beads made from waste glass are the cheapest item that cost Ushs 300, Vases cost Ushs 20,000-50,000, trophies depend on the nature, and Jugs go for Ushs 30,000-40,000 among others.

“Most of the items are priced depending on the design and size because they indicate how much wok is involved on a piece,” Okumu says.

Achievements

Okumu boosts of the developments at his glass workshop including the workshop, furnaces, employing more people which have all accrued from recycling glass.

“The business has improved my research skills as we develop more new items as well as increasing the employment base by 16 more people,” said Okumu.

The future

Okumu’s only wish is to have at least 4 customers per week for him to make a turn over from the business.

“Currently there is one reliable customer a British woman yet she alone cannot sustain the business,” he explains.

With all facilities at hand coupled with dedication, Okumu hopes to expand his capacity to make use of all waste glass.(East African Business Week)