Blogpost

Plastic Recycling: from Toulouse to Kenya

06/02/2026

Last month, we had the pleasure of welcoming a group of young people of the Lyceé Toulouse-Lautrec in the city of Toulouse in the south of France. Digijeunes is also setting up a Precious Plastic facility in Kisumu, Kenya!

After an introduction to the issue of plastic waste around the world, we carried out several experiments to identify different types of plastic. We then modelled moulds and used a panini press to create original pieces, which were ultimately used to make a tangram game.

We also explored the link between 3D printing and plastic recycling: the participants first made filament from plastic bottles, then used a 3D printer to produce some of the tangram pieces.

Throughout the process, the young people were able to interact with a team based in South Sudan, who were conducting the same experiments at the same time.

Starting in January 2026 and for over a year, Digijeunes will be setting up a Precious Plastic facility in Kisumu, Kenya, in partnership with the local organisation Bright Future Kenya. The aim is to create a plastic recycling centre at Obede Primary School, based on the Precious Plastic open source model. Once the centre is fully operational, two local young people will be employed to manage its day-to-day activities.

The Precious Plastic Kisumu initiative will focus on designing and producing useful items from recycled plastic waste, which will then be sold locally. We believe this project will bring significant benefits to the community by improving access to certain plastic products that are otherwise difficult to find in parts of Kisumu. In addition, it will raise awareness of do-it-yourself recycling and contribute to youth employability, both through direct jobs and practical workshops that provide hands-on skills training.

The Precious Plastic Kisumu initiative is co-financed by the French Development Agency (AFD).