Trash turned into treasure
Holy Cross Primary was one of the first schools in the Southern Cape to help save the environment by making and using ecobricks. Making ecobricks is a novel way to use non-recyclable materials by stuffing them tightly into a 2-litre bottle, which can then be used as a brick. The Holy Cross learners not only built a bench with their ecobricks, they also decorated the bench with plastic bottle caps they have gathered.
The ecobrick project is run by George Municipality.
Debra Sauer, municipal communications officer, says the eager learners started the project last year by making their own ecobricks and, on 6 December, they built the bench together with officials from the George municipal environmental services and other role players.
Ecobricks are made in 2-litre Coke bottles and a large wooden stick is used to stuff them with non-recyclable materials. When tightly packed, the bottle top is screwed on and it is used for building, cemented in like a clay brick. Sauer says ecobricks alleviate pressure from landfills and teaches residents that the trash littering their streets actually hold value. Heidedal Primary has recently started their own ecobrick project.
The George Municipality's environmental section invites primary schools to be part of this recycling project. Phone the Environmental Services section on 044 802 2900 for more information. The public can also fill up their own ecobricks and drop them at the Environmental Service offices at 82 Meade Street.
Visit www.facebook.com/ ecobrickexchange or www. twitter.com/ecobrickxhange.
Materials like laminated paper, photos and transparencies, polystyrene trays, plastic fruit punnets, silvery packets from chips and chocolates, wax paper and dog food bags are considered ecobrick material.