LUSAKA, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Ernest Chilambwe and Shadreck Lukwesa earn a living by transforming waste materials into functional items and ornaments.

       Chilambwe, 36, from Kapiri Mposhi, and Lukwesa, 32, from Kabwe, in central Zambia, are among those pursuing a livelihood through environmentally sustainable means in the country's low-income communities.

       Both live in the outskirts.

       Chilambwe creates storage baskets with strips made from discarded plastic materials, generating income to support himself and his family.

       "I saw an opportunity to make something useful out of plastic strips used to bind bales of clothing and beddings which traders discard," he said.

       Chilambwe makes about 60 baskets of various sizes a month, earning about 3,800 Zambian Kwacha (about 145 U.S. dollars).

       "I use the money to provide food and shelter for my wife and four children," he said. "I also support my extended family, using monies from the basket making, which is my mainstay."

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       Before turning to basket-making, Chilambwe was a carpenter.

       "I enjoy making shopping baskets from plastic strips. This is something I have done for over 10 years now. The craft not only provides me with an income but also helps to reduce waste around Kapiri Mposhi," he said.

       Lukwesa, on the other hand, has been making ornamental objects with waste paper materials for five years, turning unwanted paper into exquisite decorative pieces in the form of waterbucks and a host of other small and medium-sized wild animals.

       "I ventured into crafts-making after failing to secure a job in a formal setting. I had to learn how to make ornaments from waste paper materials from my uncle, an experienced artist," he said.

       Lukwesa now makes over 3,500 Kwacha a month from his handicraft works.

       Chilambwe and Lukwesa's innovative approach to waste not only addresses the issue of waste management but also showcases the artistic potential of recycling.

       They exemplify an entrepreneurial spirit among a growing number of Zambians facing up to economic challenges.