Published: Nov. 16, 2021 By

Plastic production is a HUGE problem, and it is increasing exponentially (by 448 million tons since 2015!) (nationalgeographic.com). In a world that produces so much plastic, it is nearly impossible to avoid. Unrecyclable plastics still end up in our homes sometimes, no matter how hard we try to go plastic-free. Don’t worry, there’s a solution: EcoBricking!

The History of Ecobricking

  • Guatemala was struggling with an overabundance of plastic due to insufficient waste infrastructure. 

    • Citizens of Guatemala created Ecobricking to collect excess plastic and use it for building (natracare.com).

  • Environmental activist Susanna Heisse created the first construction system with Ecobricks in 2003 (refash.in)

    • Soon after, other third-world countries caught on. It’s time for the developed worth to catch on!

Why Eco-Brick?

  • Plastic has many good properties; however, it contaminated ecosystems when it goes to waste.

    • Instead of simply throwing plastic “away” we should put it to use

  • Plastic is extremely durable, therefore it is a great building tool. 

  • Ecobricks put plastics to use instead of allowing them to contaminate our biosphere!

How to Ecobrick!

Ecobricking is simple! ecobricks.org

  • Step 1: Save, separate, clean, and dry your plastics.

    • Plastic must be clean and dry to avoid microbial growth in your brick.

  • Step 2: Choose a bottle.

    • Make sure its shape is consistent with what you want to build!

    • Be sure that your bottle is easy to come by. You don’t want to have to purchase a drink solely for a brick.

  • Step 3: Find a good packing stick!

    • A sturdy stick that fits into the top of your bottle will ensure that your plastic is packed tightly. Leave no empty space in the bottle!

  • Step 4: Ensure that no metals, glass, paper, or biodegradables go into your ecobrick.

    • These materials can be disposed of more safely than plastic. 

  • Step 5: Pack your bottle tight!

    • Be sure there is little to no empty space in the bottle, and that it is dense as a real brick!

    • To ensure that your bottle is dense enough, weigh it.

      • Minimum weight=bottle volume(ml)*0.33

  • Step 6: Cap it and Log!

    • Leave 1-2 cm between the cap and the top of your capped plastic. 

    • You can calculate your overall impact by logging your brick on the GoBrik App.

What To Do With Your Ecobrick

  • Use eco-bricks to build furniture, gardens, playgrounds, and more!

    • More information on how to build here

  • You can also donate/exchange eco-bricks in some locations 

    • See if there is a Drop & exchange hub near you here

  • In Boulder:

    • Drop your bricks off at The Kiva Center (1780 Lombardy Dr. Boulder)

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