KAMPALA, Uganda — Summit Green, an eco-friendly enterprise, is making significant strides in waste recycling and sustainable development across Uganda. The company’s initiatives in converting food waste into nutrient-rich animal feed and producing eco-friendly briquettes have revolutionized waste management while empowering thousands of youths and women.

Summit Green’s innovative processes transform leftover food items such as posho, banana peels, and eggshells into high-quality animal feed using black soldier fly larvae. This approach not only addresses waste disposal issues but also provides an affordable and sustainable alternative to traditional livestock feeds. The company has successfully transitioned over 11 institutions from using firewood and charcoal to adopting eco-friendly briquettes, resulting in cost savings of 20% to 35% and a 50% reduction in cooking times. This shift has fostered a smoke-free and cleaner environment in households, educational institutions, and brooding farms.

The impact of Summit Green extends to educational institutions, with schools like Cambridge Junior School in Matugga and St. Kizito High School in Namugongo leading the adoption of briquettes. Cambridge Junior School, serving 500 pupils, now relies on briquettes for meal preparation, benefiting from their reliability and cost-effectiveness. St. Kizito High School has integrated plastic recycling, paver making, and mushroom farming into its operations, aligning with Uganda’s new competence-based curriculum.

Ronald Mutebi, the visionary behind Summit Green, has focused on expanding the company’s impact through training programs. Over 10,000 youths and women have been trained in waste management and recycling techniques, equipping them with skills to manage both organic and non-organic waste sustainably. This hands-on training promotes environmental conservation and enhances food security.

Mutebi’s enterprise also addresses broader sustainability goals. By transitioning institutions to eco-friendly briquettes and recycling food waste, Summit Green contributes to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as affordable and clean energy (SDG 7) and climate action (SDG 13). The company’s efforts have positively impacted urban communities, particularly in areas like Namuwongo’s Yoka Zone. Local leaders, such as Charles Anywar, youth chairperson in Yoka Zone, commend Summit Green for turning waste into valuable resources, providing income opportunities, and reducing crime rates.

Summit Green’s Matugga-based factory, operating on an industrial three-phase power line, can produce up to 3 tons of briquettes per day, generating substantial revenue. This operation underscores the enterprise’s dual focus on waste management and economic empowerment.

Mutebi envisions a greener Uganda driven by innovative waste management solutions and empowered youth. From slums to schools, Summit Green is proving that sustainable practices can turn waste into wealth while promoting a healthier environment and stronger communities.