Being in isolation at our rainforest base has provided OBCR staff with some extra time to start working on projects that we’ve been planning for a while! For example, our last group of students helped us collect and clean plastic to turn into ecobricks.
The ecobrick was originally created in Guatemala when a tourist noticed a lot of rubbish around Lake Atitlan. She started collecting it and stuffed it into a plastic bottle that she had found. She realized that, if you push the rubbish down tightly inside the bottle, it can create a solid structure. This was how the ecobrick was born! There are now 38 schools in Guatemala made of eco bricks and the movement has spread around the world.
The Benefits of Ecobricks
– Saving single-use plastic from going to landfill/in to the ocean and reusing them for good
– Enclosing single-use materials in a bottle prevents toxic gases from escaping into the environment
– An ecobrick is very strong and can be used as an alternative to new building materials
– Ecobricks are great for community engagement and educating others about reusing and recycling!
– Research shows that prolonged viral transmission is possible on plastic surfaces. Therefore, ecobricking during the COVID-19 period can also help prevent this spread on single-use plastic and save lives.
What You Will Need
Plastic bottles. You can use large 2L bottles or smaller bottles but, to make your structure sound, it’s a good idea to use the same size bottles. You can always make multiple structures using ecobricks!
Used plastic/foil wrappers, food packaging, or delivery packaging. As long as it’s clean and dry it will work. Do not use paper or any food items as these will biodegrade over time and weaken the brick. The strength of the ecobrick comes from the fact that plastic takes hundreds, if not thousands, of years to biodegrade!
A stick or similar item. You will be using this to push the plastic down in the bottle to make sure there are no air pockets. It is important that the rubbish in the bottle is tightly packed to make it as robust as possible. You will be amazed by how much packaging can fit inside a single bottle!
Prep Your Materials
– Wash everything, including the bottles that you will use for your bricks and the rubbish you have collected. Make sure you get all of the food and drink remnants from the materials.
– Dry everything! All packaging needs to be fully dry before you use it in your ecobrick.
The Build
– Insert the packaging through the open top of the bottle. Some packaging may be too big to fit in one go, so you may need to rip or cut it.
– Push the packaging down using a stick. It’s important to do this every few pieces of plastic to make sure no air gaps build up. DON’T leave it until the end as you won’t be able to reach the air pockets at the bottom.
– When you have enough bottles to build, plan ahead of time to make sure you know exactly what type of structure you are going to make and you have all the materials you need.
– It’s great to secure the bricks in pyramids (three bricks) for extra stability and then bind the pyramids together. To bind your bricks you can use rubber bands, chicken wire, silicon glue etc.
– If you are using your bricks to build a wall or a building, why not try to create some environmentally friendly cement or use mud like some of the original eco bricks schools in Guatemala.
If you have been inspired to build your own ecobricks at home, let us know your progress! Spread the word and log your bricks on Gobrik.com!
Written by Louise, Enrollment and Outreach Manager for OBCR