One of the major issues worldwide is waste or plastic waste management. Due to its non-biodegradable nature, plastic waste often contaminates various aspects, threatening every part of our planet.
Plastic waste is still considered a threat to life, despite decreasing production. Given this issue, the use of ecobricks is an alternative solution for managing plastic waste in the modern era.
With the increasing awareness of the importance of the environment, various sustainable solutions emerge to address pollution. Ecobrick is one such new innovation. For companies, understanding and implementing this technology can be a strategic step to enhance corporate reputation and fulfill social responsibilities.
Understanding Ecobrick
Waste continues to be a serious environmental problem that has not been fully addressed, especially plastic waste. This is because the use and disposal of waste every day have become uncontrollable.
Therefore, the ecobrick program is one creative solution to tackle the problem of plastic waste. Ecobricks help manage solid waste at no cost and can reach various layers of society. Ecobrick is an environmentally friendly brick that can be used in various projects and other purposes.
Made from small pieces of plastic waste inserted into plastic bottles, the purpose of making ecobrick is to reduce the amount of plastic waste entering the environment. In English, the word “ecobrick” comes from the words “eco” meaning “environment” and “brick.” If translated directly, the word “ecobrick” means environmentally friendly.
Ecobrick is a free solution for managing solid waste that can be used by everyone, households, schools, and the community as a whole. This recycling result is also highly beneficial when used for crafts.
History of Ecobrick
Canadian artist Russel Maier discovered Ecobrick in 2012 as a solution to address the problem of plastic pollution in a village in the Sagada valley, the Philippines. Ecobrick was originally known as “bottle brick” or “ecoladrillo,” but after being widely used in various countries, these terms became more popular. Ecobricking then evolved into a community movement across countries, from cities to nations. It became a sustainable waste management system in an easy and inexpensive way.
Concept Behind Ecobrick
Ecobrick is made with the aim of turning plastic waste that is difficult to decompose into usable and valuable items. Plastics are stored inside the bottle to prevent environmental pollution and become valuable building materials.
Benefits of Ecobrick
Ecobricks, made from waste, have many benefits. Here are some of them:
- Reducing Plastic Waste
- Economic Empowerment
- Environmental Impact Reduction
- Reducing Waste Management Costs
- Empowering Citizens
- Assisting in Ecosystem Recovery
- Flexibility in Construction Applications
Advantages and Disadvantages of Ecobrick
Ecobrick has advantages and disadvantages. Here are its advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages of Ecobrick
- Ease of making.
- Materials and tools are easy to find or search for.
- Can increase income.
- Possible to reduce the amount of plastic waste that can damage the environment.
- Environmentally friendly.
Disadvantages of Ecobrick
- If the bottle is not completely filled with plastic waste, it will easily dent.
- Results are not uniform.
- If the glue is insufficient, the ecobrick can easily come off.
How to Make Ecobrick
Although it may seem simple, the process of making ecobrick cannot be underestimated because ecobrick bottles that are already finished will not deflate or make noise when pressed. Before making ecobrick, you must ensure that the plastic bottle and its plastic waste are clean and dry. This will prevent bacterial growth inside the bottle.
Ecobrick must have evenly compacted contents throughout the bottle. In practice, you can press the contents of the bottle and make sure there are no cavities inside using wood or sticks.
Making ecobrick requires patience and commitment to do it correctly. The following steps can be followed if you want to make ecobrick for internal purposes or as a social responsibility program:
Tools and Materials
- Clean and dry plastic bottles with their caps
- Non-biodegradable plastic waste (e.g., plastic bags, food wrappers, etc.)
- Wooden sticks or other tools to compact plastic waste
Making Process
- Wash used plastic bottles and all plastic waste until clean, then dry thoroughly.
- Dry after ensuring there is no dirt.
- Once the plastic waste is dry, cut it with scissors and put it into plastic bottles.
- Push and compact using bamboo or wood sticks prepared beforehand. Once the bottle is full of plastic waste, close it with the cap.
- Each ecobrick must have a minimum weight calculated by multiplying the bottle volume (milliliters) by 0.33 grams. For example, a bottle with a volume of 1,500 milliliters or 1.5 liters weighs around 495 grams, and a bottle of 600 milliliters weighs around 198 grams.
- If possible, label each ecobrick indicating the date and weight.
That was a summary of Ecobrick, as an innovation in waste management.
