Kenyan firm recycles discarded flip flops, plastic garbage into toys

A firm in Kenya recycles discarded flip flops and other plastic garbage found on beaches and waterways in the East African nation, turning them into colorful sculptures and children's toys.

Tattered old flip flops are an eyesore on Kenya's beaches, flushed out of rivers or carried across the sea from Asia and beyond.

They are the footwear of choice for much of the world but cheap flip flops, like other plastic trash, are polluting oceans and pristine white-sand beaches like Kilifi on the Indian Ocean.

Kenyan enterprise Ocean Sole collects and recycles discarded flip flops in order to reduce plastic pollution.

"Flip-flops are the most common, most affordable pair of shoes for a lot of people; rich, poor, everybody has got a pair. Since they're very easy to afford, when a pair is done, you just throw it away get a new one," Lillian Mulupi is an Ocean Sole flip flops collection coordinator, told AFP.

Kenya will host the 5th session of the UN Environment Assembly starting on Monday, February 28th. Curbing plastic pollution will be a hot topic.

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