Joburg man makes gym weights from recycled plastic
Milton Sepeng, a 32-year-old man from Johannesburg, has transformed his passion for fitness into a business after losing his job in 2023.
With gym membership and equipment becoming unaffordable, Sepeng turned to innovation, creating gym weights from recycled plastic waste.
'I have always been passionate about gym since high school,' he said.
'My story started when I lost my job in 2023, I could no longer afford gym membership nor buy gym equipment as I had no money at all. Every rand I could come up with went towards food and data, I also relied on the R350 grant.'
He said the idea was inspired by an article about two women from the Free State who manufactured building bricks from plastic waste.
'I thought that as it is possible for cement to make homemade gym weights and bricks, maybe recycled plastic can also make gym weights. That's when I started doing my research and finally found a method to do it. I got together a few scrap materials to make the mould, then I made my first gym plate/weight. It wasn't perfect, but I had done it.'
After using the weights himself, Sepeng saw potential for a business, catering to individuals who couldn't afford traditional gym equipment.
'I got together a couple of thousand to buy basic tools, and that's how I started manufacturing and selling gym weights made from plastic waste.'
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Joburg man makes gym weights from recycled plastic
Milton Sepeng, a 32-year-old man from Johannesburg, has transformed his passion for fitness into a business after losing his job in 2023. With gym membership and equipment becoming unaffordable, Sepeng turned to innovation, creating gym weights from recycled plastic waste. 'I have always been passionate about gym since high school,' he said. 'My story started when I lost my job in 2023, I could no longer afford gym membership nor buy gym equipment as I had no money at all. Every rand I could come up with went towards food and data, I also relied on the R350 grant.' He said the idea was inspired by an article about two women from the Free State who manufactured building bricks from plastic waste. 'I thought that as it is possible for cement to make homemade gym weights and bricks, maybe recycled plastic can also make gym weights. That's when I started doing my research and finally found a method to do it. I got together a few scrap materials to make the mould, then I made my first gym plate/weight. It wasn't perfect, but I had done it.' After using the weights himself, Sepeng saw potential for a business, catering to individuals who couldn't afford traditional gym equipment. 'I got together a couple of thousand to buy basic tools, and that's how I started manufacturing and selling gym weights made from plastic waste.'
