Plastic bottles, when not properly recycled, are harmful to the environment. One rural town in Nigeria is doing their part to reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in the streets.
The unique way they’re going about saving the planet is using discarded plastic bottles to build houses.
The bottles are collected from local businesses’ garbage and the streets, then they are packed solid with sand. Once full they are stacked just like bricks before they are adhered to each other using a thick mud and string.
In addition to the plastic bottle houses being a much more environmentally friendly option, these houses also provide more protection for its inhabitants. Since the bottles are filled to capacity with sand, they are practically impenetrable. This means the new houses will fare better against an earthquake and they are even considered bulletproof.
And if it isn’t enough that this new type of house in Nigeria is saving the planet, the new construction is also engaging local youth to participate in building up the community.
Those who initiated the building of the plastic bottle houses hope that their government is able see all the benefits of the new construction and will offer support for future construction of this new, greener way of living.