WINDHOEK, Dec. 12 — Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, produces a significant amount of waste, with the main municipality generating about 84,520 tonnes annually.
According to the City of Windhoek Municipal Report for the financial year 2022/2023, about 17 hectares of the landfill designated for solid waste disposal have been used up.
To address the growing waste problem, a Namibian entrepreneur is repurposing old tyres into furniture, taking decisive action to protect the environment. “I take old tyres and turn waste into treasure. The goal is to promote environmental protection, thereby minimizing its impact on the environment,” Samueline Uapingene-Masule said in a recent interview with Xinhua.
Uapingene-Masule founded Mbemuus’ Furniture Solutions in 2020. Her journey began during the COVID-19 lockdown when she developed a passion for decorating and gained upholstery skills through online courses.
“My extended family showed interest in the designs, which sparked the beginning of my venture,” she said.
What started as a part-time project operating from her garage transitioned into a full-time commitment after she lost her job as a flight attendant in 2021 when the national airline closed. Since then, with more time invested, her product range has expanded to include custom-made seats, jewellery boxes, chopping boards, and headboards featuring various fabrics and textures, such as leather and velvet, based on customer preferences.
Recycling is no easy feat for the entrepreneur in her 40s. Her workshop involves extensive labour, including collecting old tyres from the dumping site, cleaning, designing, and producing the products. She collects tyres for free from the Kupferberg Landfill Site, having obtained a permit from the City of Windhoek’s Solid Waste Management Department.
“Previously, I sourced old tyres from car repair shops and gathered discontinued pallets and other materials from local shops,” she said. Since starting her business, she has repurposed more than 100 items from used tyres, significantly reducing litres.
Her work has attracted interest beyond Namibia. After relocating to Eswatini with her husband in early 2022, she continued her business there.
“People in Eswatini also showed interest in my business model and products. There, I continued to breathe new life into waste,” she said.
In 2022, Uapingene-Masule enhanced her skills by enrolling in upholstery courses at a vocational training centre in Eswatini and completing a supplementary woodwork course in Cape Town, South Africa.
Before this, her passion was already complemented by travel experiences and knowledge gained from her degree in public management at the Namibia University of Science and Technology. “I travelled extensively with the airline and drew inspiration from decor and interior designs around the world, which guided my decision to pursue this path,” she said.
After returning to Namibia in August 2023, she handed over her business to locals in Eswatini and focused on expanding her operations and re-establishing herself in the local market.
“I built upon the business models and techniques of woodwork, which have enabled a restart with effective business and financial management,” she said.
Since her return and as she has gained more experience, the demand for chairs made from tyres — especially multipurpose chairs — has increased. “These chairs serve three purposes: beautifying the space, providing storage, and reducing environmental waste,” she said.
The income generated is reinvested into the business, contributing to its growth.
Meanwhile, Uapingene-Masule said this growth has enabled her to create job opportunities. Based on orders received, she currently employs one full-time and two part-time workers.
Despite her achievements, challenges remain, such as changing Namibians’ mindsets toward waste and securing funding for expansion.
“Woodwork and upholstery are often seen as male-dominated fields, but this stereotype motivates me to ensure that my products are of the highest quality, which will be the foundation of my business, not gender roles,” she said.
Additionally, she hoped to expand her services, train others in the field, and develop a curriculum and training plan to realize this vision.
“Another goal is to sell products beyond Windhoek, broaden my clientele, and create more jobs in reducing waste,” she said.
Moses Matyayi, chief executive officer of the City of Windhoek, said such initiatives significantly contribute to ongoing efforts to improve solid waste management and maintain cleanliness in the city.
Matyayi said waste should be reused, recycled, and regenerated to minimize environmental impact, create local employment, generate income, and promote waste monetization. “As one of the cities producing a large amount of waste in Namibia, Windhoek requires robust action to address the situation.” (Xinhua)
