Eco-friendly Ecobricks: A waste management game-changer. Explore sustainable living tips on Brown Living's blog.
Before starting to talk about how Eco-Bricks are almost a good solution for non-biodegradable plastic waste, let’s first understand what is an Eco-Brick.
According to ecobricks.org, an eco-brick is a PET bottle packed solid with used plastic that has been cleaned and dried. The bottles are packed to a set density to create reusable blocks, effectively sequestering plastic. Also, they serve as reusable building blocks. They can be used to produce various items, including furniture, garden walls, and other structures.
ECO-BRICKS CAN BE USED FOR:
- Gardens, Eco-bricks are laid horizontally and completely covered
- Benches, Two or three levels of horizontally laid eco-bricks to make seats and benches
- Parks, A combination of raised beds and benches to make a public green space, ideally filled with edible plants.
- Walls, Eco-bricks can be laid horizontally with earth mortar to build vertical walls.
WHY ECO-BRICKS?
- They seal the plastic away preventing the build-up of toxic gases emitted during the degradation of the plastic, such as methane.
- PET bottles are perfect for sealing away plastic because they have incredible longevity and protect the contents from UV rays.
- Eco-bricks are durable and will never crumble, making them ideal construction materials. They are used to create furniture, walls, and even houses in developing countries.
These reasons are enough to boost one’s morale to start believing in the concept of Eco-bricks however there are downsides to it as well. Such as following:
- Eco-bricks exposure to the sunlight can cause damage to the soil which will hit water levels harming the aquatic life.
- Photo-degradation also makes the plastic fragile and vulnerable to breakage, releasing microplastics into the area. This is known to be harmful to animal and human health.
- Eco-bricks have been criticized as not being a long-term solution to the plastic dilemma. Many consider eco-bricks to merely be a means of delaying the problem for a few more years.
- Ecobricks contribute to the reduction of non-recyclable plastic waste, lessening their negative impact on the environment. Solid Waste Management (including Electronic Waste and Medical Waste) supports heritage preservation and the conservation of historical sites. These activities, in turn, promote the overall well-being of people, society, and the environment.
The making of an Eco brick
All said & done let’s dive into the process of making an Eco-brick. It is as simple as any other DIY. DIY Eco-bricks process is to save non-recyclable plastic wraps & dry clean them. Then finding a clean dried PET Bottle with a cap. Taking the wraps & fitting them in the bottle with the help of a stick. Stuff the bottle adequately. For example, a 2-litre bottle should weigh 500 grams. Put the cap back on & it’s ready!
Changemakers in Eco Bricks
Keeping all of it in mind a lot of organizations in India are doing some great work around eco-bricks. Some of them are:
Building Dreams Foundation
Building Dreams Foundation (BDF) promotes the social development of disadvantaged children and communities. Their mission is to serve the most vulnerable populations in India, poor children, and adolescents. We focus on Food, Education, Environment, and Empowerment. One of their projects is eco-bricks from which the environment benefits & the students are also empowered.
Contact: Phone: +917078386765, +919720592667, +919720592667 | Address: House No-313b, Wing N0-7, Above Jeet Fashion, Near Balaji Jewelers, Premnagar, Dehradun, Uttrakhand, India 248007
Rise Foundation
They are accepting Ecobricks to help reduce the disposal of none-recyclable plastics that are harmful to the environment:
- Solid Waste Management (including E-Waste and Medical waste).
- To promote, preserve and maintain heritage and historical sites.
- Any other activity for the betterment of people, society and environment.
Contact: Mr. Munish Kundra on +919818739265 | Address: Brahma Apartments, Main Rd, Sector 7 Dwarka, Dwarka, Delhi, 110075
DHAN Foundation
Building People and Institutions with Value-driven Democratic process to enable the poor for Poverty Eradication, Water & Nutrition security and Ecologically Balanced Development”. With the support of village youths, MGREGA workers, and the village Panchayat, the eco-bricks were created in a short time. With the local mansion, the final structure was shaped.
The structure was a symbol of how collectively a community can play a role in combating environmental pollution. Impressed by the output, the village Panchayat decided to adopt the practice and replicate the structures in other parts of the village.
Contact: +91-452-2302500, +91-452-2302598 | Email: dhanfoundation@dhan.org | Address: DHAN Foundation, 1A, Vaidyanathapuram East, Kennet Cross Road, Madurai – 625016, Tamil Nadu, INDIA
Unexplored Bastar
A group of twenty people from Tamda ghumar and Mendri Ghumar villages contribute daily to the cause and play a significant role in nature conservation. Women of the village chose to collect the plastic waste, clean it, shred it, and fill in the plastic bottles to create the eco-bricks. The youth of the village engaged themselves in the construction of a utility out of those eco-bricks. They created a dustbin with mud and all the 60 Eco-bricks which are placed near the Naka and serve as an inspiration for responsible tourism for the tourists visiting Tamda Ghumar.
Contact: +91 9727747567 | Email: apeksha@unexploredbastar.com, jeet@unexploredbastar.com | Address: Jagdalpur, Bastar, Chhattisgarh | Instagram | Facebook
Kabaadey ji
Kabaadey ji is solving the plastic waste menace by giving workshops to students in India on reusing plastic waste in the form of Eco-bricks.
Contact: 9053122979 | Email: kabaadey@gmail.com | Instagram | Facebook
Eco Bricks India
The Global Ecobrick Alliance is an Earth Enterprise. This means that we that follows the principles of ecological contribution in the management of our finances and ecological impacts to ensure we are of benefit. It also means, that for full transparency and awareness, our financial and ecological accounting is disclosed for public review and audit.
Contact: 7001233751 | Email: indiaecobricks@gmail.com | Address: East main road , Kalimpong, India, 734301
