Did you know that at least three in every five schoolchildren have no desk or chair, but plastic waste could be part of the solutions to lift these learners off the dusty floors? Our contributor Christian Mwase reports:
In Malawi’s overcrowded classrooms, boys and girls sit on cold floors where they bend and bow discomfortingly to scribble words and numbers in the notebooks pressed against their laps.
The common sight, fuelled by lack of desks and chairs, not only makes learning difficult but also restricts teacher’s movement to attend to the special needs of children at risk of lagging behind.
However, on the way to every school, unwanted plastics flash past, including bottles dumped in open spaces on the roadside.
The piling plastics could help improve learners’ experience and a local recycling enterprise in Blantyre is setting the pace.
In a bold step towards sustainable waste management, ArtMal has launched a project that transforms plastic waste into durable, environment-friendly products such as school desks, stools and tables.
The waste-to-education initiative is fast positioning the youth-led enterprise as a leader in green innovation.
To ArtMal project manager Ethel Mwafulirwa, the initiative demonstrates that plastic waste can be both profitable and environmentally sustainable.
“These products are significantly stronger than wooden ones, which deplete our forests. Our recycled plastic products can last for seven to 10 years unless someone deliberately breaks them. The raw material we use is purely plastic, with no additives,” she says.
According to Mwafulirwa, ArtMal collaborates with schools, private companies, innovative youths, faith groups and community organisations increasingly adopting or supporting the use of recycled plastic furniture.
“Our goal is to promote a culture where sustainability becomes part of everyday life. We want to show that recycled products can be both practical and high-quality. From schools to homes, anyone can use these items. They are durable, affordable and environmentally responsible,” she says.
Mwafulirwa urges Malawians to help keep their country clean by collecting, sorting and selling recyclable plastics, including juice bottles and pharmaceutical containers, to their Blantyre facility.
The enterprise purchases the high-density plastics for recycling to make classrooms friendly for children that need a hand up to leave the dusty floors infested with dust, stinging ants and cracks.
“It takes about 12 kilogrammes of high-density plastic to create a single top sheet for a school desk. Each piece is made entirely of pure plastic, no additives or wood. This makes it strong, safe and sustainable,” Mwafulirwa narrates.
Environmentalist Maloto Chimkombero described the waste-to-education innovation as a model of how creativity and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.
He states: “Turning plastic waste into school furniture is a brilliant project and a creative solution to two major problems in Malawi: waste management and limited access to educational resources.
“By transforming plastic waste into desks, Art Malawi is not only reducing landfill waste but also providing schools with much-needed furniture. This project promotes sustainability, environmental awareness, and education, which are all crucial for Malawi’s development.”
Chimkombero adds that such projects could play a crucial role in strengthening Malawi’s climate resilience and advancing the circular economy.
“By adopting a circular economy approach, Malawi can reduce its reliance on single-use plastics, decrease waste, and create new economic opportunities. This project also aligns with the country’s efforts to integrate environmental education into the curriculum, promoting a culture of sustainability among young people,” he says.
Located next to Skyway University in Ginnery Corner industrial zone in Blantyre, ArtMal is a dynamic social enterprise founded by Manota Mphande.
“By redefining waste as a valuable resource, we build a cleaner, greener Malawi and promote responsible stewardship for future generations,” says the man who picks plastics from Mudi River.
Among others, the Waste to Education project’s partners include Waste Advisers, Kachere/Mzedi women informal waste pickers, Blantyre City Council and private companies such as Chibuku Products Malawi Limited.
It spearheads efforts that focus on environmental sustainability, upcycling innovation, and community empowerment.
