KNYSNA NEWS - BioWise’s recently launched Waste Nothing Knysna programme is inspiring people to minimise their waste by making “bottle bricks”.
Also known as “eco bricks”, this initiative started in South America.
BioWise director Sue Swain says that, to date, the “hug it forward” initiative as it is known has helped build 118 schools in Latin America. “Once full and tightly compacted, they are as good as a brick. They are used as fillers for walls in between a concrete or steel structure and provide excellent insulation. They can also be used for benches, bus stops and outbuildings, and we aim to have some structures built by the end of this year," she says.
How to make a 'brick'
It is really easy to do, explains Swain. “All you need are some plastic bottles – 500ml, 1 litre and 2-litre plastic cool-drink and/or water bottles. Square 2 litre juice bottles can also work, but not ones with handles. Then you need a stick or similar tool with which to compact – it should just fit inside the bottleneck and needs to be longer than the bottle. And you’re ready to go – start filling, and then compact, fill a bit and compact, and repeat.
"It is essential that the bottles are compacted tightly as that provides the strength and they must have the lids on.”
A school competition launched as part of the National Lotteries Commission-funded programme resulted in more than 900 bottles being made. “We are delighted with the response. Fifteen out of 22 schools in the area entered the competition and the entrance fee was bottle bricks to the equivalent of 10% of the learners. That is more than 900 refuse bags that did not end up in landfill.”
Reducing waste a brick at a time
Swain says bottle bricks directly reduce waste sent to landfill sites as they are filled mostly with nonrecyclable items.
“Plastic packets, bread packets, milk sachets, cling wrap, cellophane, cereal packets, dog and cat food pellet packets and cleaned pouches, chips packets, chocolate wrappers and any other foil packets. One can even put in polystyrene trays and containers and empty toothpaste tubes – just clean then and cut them up. But no perishable items like food bits or leftover milk please," she adds.
Bottle bricks. Photos: Supplied
“Finished bottles can be dropped off at Bodega Café, top end of Waterfront Drive near where Waterfront Drive joins the N2, close to the Knysna Provincial Hospital. Then watch this space for feedback on what has been done with them and work parties for building structures," says Swain enthusiastically.
Want to find out more?
For more information or any questions, email sue@biowise.org.za or visit Facebook/Waste Nothing Knysna.
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