Nigerians are building earthquake-proof homes from plastic bottles — and it's game-changing

The whole world has been fighting plastic waste; in fact, a report claims that in 2022.  Over 267.7 million tonnes of plastic waste were generated globally, but only 27.9% was recycled. Now, plastic is non-biodegradable, and it continues to persist in the environment for generations, contributing significantly to pollution on a substantial level. Nigeria understands the issue, and hence some of its companies use plastic bottles to create sustainable building materials. The profound innovation not only builds houses that can help withstand earthquakes and even bullets but also turns environmental waste into an opportunity. These homes, "bottle bricks," also help families in Nigeria have a roof over their heads despite rising expenses. 

Apparently, empty plastic bottles are packed with soil or sand and stacked like bricks, one on top of the other, to form walls. When the bricks are laid on top of each other, they are bound with mud and tied with strings for added stability. A developer who has built such houses said these bottle bricks are extremely durable and are 18 times stronger than regular clay bricks. "All we want to see is how we can evacuate all the bottles from the streets, from the roadsides, so that we can make use of them and try to create a job opportunity," a developer told Al Jazeera English.

Moreover, he said that the initiative also creates employment for young boys who have no jobs and are asked to help build these houses. The outlet also found that houses made of plastic bottles require only one-third of the amount needed for making traditional houses, especially because the main raw material is free. According to Power of Positivity, the village of Yelwa was the first to have a home constructed from recycled plastic bottles. In fact, it became so famous that tourists come from all over to see it. Apart from tourists, government officials and leaders from Nigeria also come to visit to see the structure.

The report claims that these eco-friendly houses usually include a bedroom, a living room, a bathroom, a toilet, and a kitchen. Not only are they eco-friendly, but the houses also look beautiful. As per the report, each house requires approximately 7,800 plastic bottles. All the effort in building such extensive designs is worth it because the bottle houses also help people survive the intense Nigerian climate. So the sand helps block the sun's heat and keep the temperatures comfortable indoors. While the technology caught attention in Nigeria, it was first tried in India, South America, and Central America.

Above everything else, bottle houses can be an excellent way to tackle plastic waste if accepted globally. According to research, 481.6 billion plastic bottles were used worldwide in a single year. This suggests 40 billion per month and 1.3 billion per year. But the alarming reality is that only 9% of plastic is recycled. These bottles are typically discarded, and they then pollute the environment in more than just one way. They harm wildlife, contaminate soil and water with microplastics, and contribute significantly to climate change. 

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