Recycling with Style: How Migori Pharmacist Turns Trash into Treasure

A pharmacist in Migori County is converting discarded plastic jerrycans and glass bottles into functional household items, providing a new source of income while addressing local waste challenges.

Nixtone Ambiche, 33, began his craft out of financial necessity after being unable to afford medical training. Encouraged by a friend who recalled his early talent in art, Ambiche started experimenting with recycled plastic containers. What began as a small project with a two-litre bottle has grown into a self-sustaining initiative combining art, income generation, and environmental awareness.

Currently based in Kisumu, where he works as a pharmacist, Ambiche travels weekly to Oruba Royal Estate in Migori to produce and sell items made from waste materials. His range includes flower pots, laundry baskets, food carriers, paper holders, and decorative ornaments, all crafted from repurposed jerrycans and glass. Many of the pieces serve practical household functions. 

“I want people to see that art is not just about decoration. It can be functional,” he said.

Ambiche’s venture supplements his monthly salary of approximately Sh30,000. His first sale, a flower pot sold for Sh400 after three hours of work, enabled him to join the Kenya Medical Training College in Meru in 2022. He continued developing his craft while studying, with support from his wife and friends. 

As demand for his work grew, he scaled up production and built a customer base through referrals and social media platforms, especially TikTok. The project has also taken on a training component. While in Meru, Ambiche mentored three young people in recycling techniques. 

Now in Migori, he continues to train unemployed youth under the age of 30, helping them learn how to create marketable items from waste. The goal, he says, is to address unemployment by turning waste into opportunity.

Ambiche sources most of his materials from hospitals and hotels, often at little or no cost. In two months, he can collect up to 14 sacks of glass, each weighing around 90 kilograms. However, the lack of access to machinery limits what he can do with glass shards, which he currently stockpiles and sells at low prices.

He notes that basic infrastructure would allow him to process the material more efficiently and increase the value of his products. He earns an average of Sh15,000 monthly from his art, although challenges remain. Preparing materials manually is labour-intensive and sometimes dangerous, especially when carving plastic or handling broken glass. 

A lack of finishing materials, such as paint, also affects the final look and price of his products. 

“Some customers see my work as just a jerrycan instead of appreciating the creativity behind it,” he said.

Ambiche plans to eventually establish a recycling company that combines environmental sustainability with entrepreneurship. He hopes the business will create jobs and promote responsible waste management across Kenya.