As time passes by, the worse our growing waste problem becomes. Each household generates a substantial amount of tons per day, but it is alarming how many are unaware of how to segregate them. As a result, our landfills become overwhelmed, our oceans become polluted, and trash is left all over the streets, causing floods.
As someone who lives in Metro Manila, I often see garbage pickup trucks in the morning on my way out of the neighborhood, only to see all kinds of trash mixed together. It is troubling that people don’t understand the different waste management practices. In this article, we’ll focus on three: eco bricks, recycling, and upcycling. Hopefully, these will help you manage your waste and create a more sustainable household.
Eco Bricks
An Eco Brick is a tightly packed plastic bottle with biodegradable materials like plastic bags, sachets, styrofoam, etc. From the name itself, it is used as a brick or building block for different structures or furniture.
You might ask, “Why make eco bricks when I can buy actual bricks? ” Well, not only is it affordable and accessible, but it is also a sustainable building material that helps in reducing plastic waste. It is strong and dense (as long as it is packed tightly), which makes it capable of keeping up with conventional construction materials. Plus, isn’t it rewarding to fill a whole bottle with plastic?
Photo from Ecobricks.og
Recycling
Recycling is the easiest to understand, yet it is the most overlooked. The purpose of recycling is to collect old and used products/materials to create new ones. Recyclable objects can include paper, cardboard, tin cans, plastic, and more! It helps us create less waste and conserve natural resources and energy.
Upcycling
This one's for the creative thinkers out there (but is also for the simple-minded who want a challenge 😉).
“Upcycling” is another fancy term for transforming waste into new items, giving them new value and purpose. Many people turn plastic bottles into planters or old clothes into bags or decor. You can go as crazy as you want! Some even host prized competitions like parol or dress-making contests using recycled materials.
Photo from SBS Filipino showing the winners of FILSPARC’s upcycled parol-making contest.
When Should Each Method Be Used?
Eco bricks and upcycling are best done if you have any home/community projects. Each method depends on the type of waste, available resources, and your intended outcome.
Creating Eco Bricks can be done every day—as you continuously generate unrecyclable plastic waste, you may integrate it into your daily/weekly routine, which is as simple as cleaning and packing your materials. Little by little, once you have collected enough loaded Eco Bricks, you may start building your projects.
Meanwhile, upcycling can be done when you want to save money or foster creativity. It depends on what type of objects you want to create or your available resources, but it has a lot of potential for DIY projects that can spruce upyour household.
Recycling is nothing fancy compared to the first two. It can be done if you simply want to manage your waste. You must first check your local guidelines to determine the local collection schedule in your area so that you can establish a recycling routine.
Conclusion
Overall, each method plays an important role in reducing waste. What really matters is that we are aware of the significance of waste management and what method is most effective. Let this be a reminder that the next time you’re about to throw something away, pause and think. We need to be more mindful of how we handle our waste because real change begins with small, intentional actions.
Written by: Noira Maribao