Takataka is locally transforming plastic waste in Uganda into quality, affordable construction materials. We’re creating jobs, improving the environment and public health, and closing a loop in the circular economy.
The Technology:
Modern polymer processing equipment fabricated in Uganda
How It Works
Step 1
Collect plastic waste.
Step 2
Sort, shred, & melt plastic (safely).
Step 3
Mold into products.
How it all started
When Paige started grad school at UC Berkeley in Fall 2017, she wanted to work on problems that were affecting her Ugandan friends, so she started researching plastic waste. She worked with Gulu University students to conduct an assessment of plastic waste in Gulu and interview 200+ people. Paige also met Peter who was working on plastic waste education through an organization he started called AfriGreen Sustain. They partnered together to form Takataka Plastics, and in January 2020, they opened a small plastic collection center, hired three staff, built prototype machines, and received Takataka’s first order. Now, Takataka Plastics can’t produce enough to keep up with the demand for our wall tiles, so we’re working on scaling up operations in Gulu City to make more products and create more jobs and a cleaner, healthier environment.
Meet the Team
Peter Okwoko
Peter is a former lecturer of IT at Gulu University, but he left academia to start Takataka Plastics and make an impact in his community. He is a graduate of the MSc Innovative Communication Technologies and Entrepreneurship program from Aalborg University, Denmark. Peter is from Northern Uganda and is super passionate about creating opportunities for disadvantaged people in his community & educating community members about caring for the environment. He is the founder of AfriGreen Sustain and co-founder of Hashtag Gulu, a community-based organization that works with children and young adults who live and work on the streets of Gulu.
Peter is a 2022 Echoing Green Fellow and the winner of the 2020 DANIDA Alumni Prize.
Paige Balcom
Paige holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California Berkeley where she focused on Energy Science and Technology & Development Engineering. She has a deep passion to use engineering and entrepreneurship to create jobs and help improve people’s lives. Originally from the US, Paige has been working in Northern Uganda since 2016.
Paige pitched on Shark Tank and has received several fellowships and awards including those from the National Science Foundation, UC Berkeley, Fulbright Program, USAID, the Institute of International Education, and the Lemelson-MIT Student Prize.