Ecobricks: A Creative Way to Process Plastic Waste at Home

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Plastic is one of the materials that is very close to human life. It is undoubtedly true that plastic makes everything easier, from personal to industrial purposes. This material is widely chosen thanks to its efficiency, cost, and flexibility.

Plastic is an attractive option when it is in a new condition, but can it still be used when it becomes trash? Yes! Ecobricks are one such example. It is a portrayal of utilizing plastic waste to increase its value.

This article discusses complete information about what is an ecobrick, including the definition and how to make it. So, read this article until the end!

What Is an Ecobrick?

An ecobrick is a creative way to process plastic waste into high-value products. The term “ecobrick” comes from “eco,” which is eco-friendly, and “brick,” meaning that ecobricks are environmentally friendly bricks.

Ecobricks were first innovated by a Canadian artist, Rusel Maier, and his Indonesian wife, Ani Himawati Maier. Today, ecobricks are growing in popularity and are commonly referred to as bottle bricks or ecoladrillos.

Benefits of an Ecobrick

In general, ecobricks can improve the effectiveness of managing plastic waste. Here are some advantages of an ecobrick from plastic waste:

1. Becoming the Base and Substitution Materials

The first benefit is becoming the base and substitution material. You can make indoor furniture, such as chairs, decorative walls, and plant pots, with ecobricks. Furthermore, ecobricks can be an alternative material for bricks or concrete blocks to construct simple buildings.

2. Adding Economic Value

Aside from being beneficial technically, ecobricks can also save more costs and budget. Interestingly, you can maximize ecobricks’ economic value by selling them online or offline. Usually, some waste banks are willing to buy ecobricks to be reused.

3. Educating Society

Ecobricks can be a medium for educating society about how important it is to manage waste properly. Not only for the adults, but children must also know the importance of environmental care activities.

Also, research published in Jurnal Ilmiah Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat revealed that the process of making ecobricks was exciting, reducing waste, was a positive activity, and the results could be used for learning for kindergarten children in Cokrokusuman village.

How to Create an Ecobrick

Ecobricks can be made with simple tools and waste, making it easy to do. If you want to make an ecobrick, here is the equipment and the guidelines you need:

1. Equipment

Before making ecobricks, you must prepare the equipment as follows:

Plastic bottles (600 ml or 1500 ml).
Small plastic waste, such as detergent or snack packages, or plastic bags.
Spoon or small wood.
Scissors (optional).
Glue (optional).

2. Steps

After gathering the equipment, you can follow the steps below to make ecobricks:

Sort the plastic waste and only use the proper one. Wash feasible plastic waste using soap, then dry it in the sun.
Check the plastic bottle to be used and make sure it is dry before filling it with plastic waste.
If you have plastic waste that is too big, you can cut it first to make it easily fit into the bottle.
Put the plastic waste inside the bottle.
Ensure that the plastic waste is compact enough. You can use a spoon or a small stick to make it compact. Push all the waste until it hits all the surfaces inside the bottle, and no air voids are left in the bottle.
Weigh the finished ecobrick and make sure it weighs 200 grams per 600 ml bottle.
If you do not plan to use the ecobricks right away, store them in a place that is not exposed to direct sunlight. However, if you want to use them immediately, you can arrange them in the shape you want, such as a fence, a chair, or a plant pot. Do not forget to use glue to make it stronger.

That concludes the information about an ecobrick, which can be a fun way to process plastic waste around you. Despite being simple, it is very impactful for environmental preservation. So, do you want to try it?

Talking about plastic waste products, Chandra Asri Group develops a franchise of asphalt plastic mixture products made from shredded plastic bags named CIRCLOⓇ.

This franchise not only becomes the solution to plastic waste processing but also an effort to empower vendors and recyclers in producing plastic shreds through the plastic waste collection ecosystem.

Chandra Asri Group also consistently educates contractors or asphalt mixing plants (AMP) that they can use plastic shreds produced by recyclers and vendors for asphalt mixing.

The fact that plastic waste can be processed and utilized in many fields should make us realize that it is very crucial to take simple steps consistently to support environmental sustainability.

If you have a high commitment to doing various environmental conservation actions, from the simplest actions, you can join Indonesia Asri.

In Indonesia Asri, you can participate in an attractive challenge named #SiPalingSustainable. This challenge is suitable for those having a high interest in implementing an eco-friendly lifestyle and wanting to spread awareness to other people.

What are you waiting for? Register yourself now and become part of Warga Asri to bring positive contributions to the harmonious nature!