To Combat Pollution, Man Builds Restaurant Boat From Plastic Bottles

James Kateeba felt sad by the amount of plastic waste he saw on the shores of Lake Victoria in his native Uganda , Africa. So he used it to build a floating restaurant. 

“The fact that we had a problem of pollution as a country … I decided to design something out of the ordinary,” Kateeba told The Associated Press (AP). 

Kateeba started by asking fishermen to collect any plastic bottles they found. There were plenty to be had. After only 6 months, he had gathered 10 tons of the litter. Kateeba used old fishing nets to tie the bottles together. Then, he filled them with dirt and used them to anchor his restaurant. After that, plant life took over. 

“This is morning glory,” Kateeba told an AP reporter as he pointed to one of the plants. A visitor added, “This is a very good idea … You are not only cleaning the environment but also providing something unique.”

Lake Victoria is the world’s second-largest freshwater lake. It borders three countries. They all rely on it for food, trade, and tourism. Yet, droughts caused by climate change have lowered water levels. Pollution could hurt the industry on its banks. Kateeba hopes his work can inspire others to care for the lake too.

“I am sure … we should be able to encourage other people to design things,” he said. “Other methods … of trying to deal with plastic pollution on Lake Victoria.”

Photo by Nick Fewings courtesy of Unsplash.