Innovation for win-win situation

FOLLOWING a question about what to do with empty plastic bottles, Colleen sent me the following:

Thank you for the most interesting column and the helpful advice. Herewith my penny’s worth about excellent use for empty water bottles.

I read some time ago that Nigeria is solving its serious problem with huge piles of empty plastic bottles in a most innovative way. People are filling them with sand and using them instead of bricks to build houses. I assume they are plastering over them once laid.

Sand is a brilliant fire retardant and insulator. The bottles are free and by using them this way, a major pollution problem is solved. It is a win-win for all.

Richard, to whom I offered advice about water tanks, sent me the following:

Thank you for answering our query about our water tank. You put our minds at rest. We have found it interesting to read about contractors and the fact that the standard of building is no longer the same.

We heard about someone who is going to do some building, and we alerted them to the fact that not every contractor knows what they are doing.

It is encouraging when my advice is passed on. When people follow my advice to do things properly, doing it right the first time is a win-win situation for everybody.