ZaZu Manufacturing LTD is a dynamic and innovative company dedicated to the upcycling of textile waste into valuable products,
among them construction materials. As of today, Kigali produces 1800-2000 tons of waste every day.
Landfills are often the destination for textile waste that isn't burned. However, many textiles, especially synthetics,
can take hundreds of years to decompose in these oxygen-limited environments. During this slow breakdown process, up to 200 years,
they still release methane. In the process, they become breeding grounds for pests and diseases that attack residents of Kigali.
The leachate also seeps into the ground where they contaminate underground water sources.
The textile waste may also be incinerated, further adding to the climate crises as they release greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere.
These gases trap heat, causing global warming and disrupting weather patterns. Methane is particularly harmful, with a warming potential 28 times greater than carbon dioxide over a 100-year period.
Burning textiles releases harmful pollutants like particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air.
These pollutants can contribute to respiratory problems, heart disease, and other health issues.