{"id":72491,"date":"2019-10-08T12:59:35","date_gmt":"2019-10-08T12:59:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/test10.co.za\/C\/?p=72491"},"modified":"2019-10-10T09:33:28","modified_gmt":"2019-10-10T09:33:28","slug":"building-bridges-one-eco-brick-at-a-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test10.co.za\/C\/building-bridges-one-eco-brick-at-a-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Building Bridges, One Eco-brick at a Time\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Let\u2019s be honest, as humans, we\u2019re waking up pretty late to the fact that we\u2019ve been harming the earth for years. But, better late than never, right? The fact is that there\u2019s been a huge surge in environmental consciousness of late and there are new projects popping up daily, like eco-bricks, that are attempting to right the wrongs.<\/p>\n

It’s time to start recycling your waste, with many grocery stores and cafes attempting to make a difference, here is how you can start<\/a>. Waste-Ed and The Eco-brick Exchange are two organisations that encourage you to contribute to local projects or to start your own – one eco-brick at a time.<\/p>\n

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Recent Projects<\/h4>\n

Waste-Ed<\/a> and The Eco-Brick Exchange<\/a> are both actively encouraging the use of eco-bricks to uplift communities. From building garden beds to benches, these bricks can be used to build almost anything.<\/p>\n

In 2013 the South African government funded a project<\/a> with the help of eco-bricks. They were able to build a safe and uplifting space for young children in the Delft Township in Cape Town.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Mostly constructed from tyres rammed with earth, eco-bricks were also used in the design to showcase their aesthetic value. The project was used as an opportunity to raise awareness in the area through community outreach programs.<\/p>\n

What is an Eco-brick<\/h4>\n

An eco-brick is a plastic bottle that has been filled (to the brim) with all sorts of non- biodegradable waste, such as plastic, chip packets, wrappers. So the plastic that can\u2019t currently be recycled, can be used in a clever compact way, to ensure that it doesn\u2019t end up in landfills.<\/p>\n

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This is a compact way of controlling and managing plastic waste and they can then be used in the form of ‘bricks’ to build walls, benches and so on.<\/p>\n

How can you make one?<\/h4>\n

It’s pretty easy, lemon-squeezy, and you can make them from the comfort of your own home. To start, get your hands on a 1,5-2L plastic bottle and collect different types of non-biodegradable waste to fill the bottle. It is a good idea to contact the project you plan on donating to, to ensure the size of the eco-brick needed.<\/p>\n

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Depending on the size of your project, your plastic bottle size will differ – so perhaps before starting, it would be a good idea to do some research to check if there are any local projects happening that you could get involved in.<\/p>\n

A Few Things to Note<\/h4>\n

Do\u2019s<\/p>\n