Most of the products we buy and use contain plastic. Plastic takes a long time to degrade, so it has an impact on the environment if it is not disposed of correctly. As an option for the reuse of plastic waste or waste that has some percentage of plastic, the eco-brick appeared.
What is Eco brick?
The eco-brick consists of plastic bottles of less than 3 liters, filled with any type of plastic waste and aluminum foil. Once finished, it can serve as an acoustic, thermal and anti-seismic insulator.
Unlike recycled products, eco-brick does not recycle products, but rather reuses them. The recycling process consists of processing a certain material in order to be able to give it some kind of use again. The eco-brick only reuses the products that are put inside the bottle. The realization of these bricks is purely handmade, so it requires labor.
Solutions proposed by the Eco brick.
This invention proposes simple solutions to complex problems. First, it gives us alternatives to reuse all kinds of plastics, which in some cases take 700 years to decompose. Second, it creates a source of work for those in charge of making the eco-bricks and reduces the amount of garbage that goes to landfills. And finally, it creates awareness in society about the importance of building a new material from the reuse of certain waste products.
The only thing that would be missing to finish promoting such a project, brought from Guatemala and promoted in Chile through a “Plastic Waste Reuse Campaign”, would be the support of the Government or the different municipalities ensuring that the eco-brick is presented as a valid and safe alternative to build. In this way, a much more practical solution has been found for construction, which normally consumes more than half of the planet’s resources.
How to make an eco-brick?
To make your Eco bricks, follow these steps:
- Step 1: Wash and dry your PET bottle (typical of disposable drink) and save its cap.
- Step 2: Place it in strategic places like the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom or car.
- Step 3: Put in these bottles the residues (misnamed garbage) of plastics, aluminum foil, feather or highly dyed or laminated papers. From time to time, compact the material with a stick. It is very important that the waste they introduce is clean and dry. Never introduce organic waste (except paper that has been heavily laminated). And very important, do not insert batteries under any circumstances.
- Step 4: Once filled and with the material well compacted inside, cover the bottle and your Eco brick is ready. Be very careful that the eco brick is very hard and as compacted as possible.
- Step 5 :Share this information with your family, friends, colleagues and colleagues.
