Recycle is a process of transforming used goods into useful goods. It is done to reduce pollution, save energy, and minimalize greenhouse gas emission caused by goods production, as well as save money. With the correct processing technique, recycled goods could look just as good, or even better, than new goods. In general, used goods are recycled into decorations, accessories, or clothes. Evidently, building material could also be produced by recycling old goods. Lately, a lot of people start using recycled building materials for building construction. Here are some examples of building materials made by recycling used goods:
- Brick from Paper Waste
The idea of recycling paper waste into bricks came from two Indian scientists. They were looking for alternative building materials with cheaper price, as the high price of building materials is one of the biggest problems faced by Indian citizens when constructing a building. This brick is made by combining paper waste and cement. The two ingredients are mixed together with a ratio of 9 paper waste: 1 cement. The mixture is then molded and dried until it hardens. The hardened mixture could be used as an alternative for red bricks. This kind of brick is more economical and waterproof compared to red brick.
- Wall from Old Bottles
Used bottles are quite easy to acquire, but a lot of people still do not know that used bottles has a lot of advantages. Walls made of used bottles have existed since a long time ago, because there are a lot of old buildings that uses bottles as wall material. To make walls using used bottles, the bottles should be filled with sand and arranged properly to create a structure. The structure is then glued together using cement mixture. Buildings made with used bottles will need less building materials than usual, and it could reduce bottle waste. Furthermore, buildings made using bottles are also stronger and more durable.
- Bricks from Plastic Waste
Beside paper waste, plastic waste could also be transformed into recycled bricks. The idea of transforming plastic waste into bricks came from Peter Lewis, a New Zealand citizen. Peter Lewis created a machine called Byfusion as a solution for handling waste and saving building material cost. This machine could transform plastic waste into a brick that is almost as strong as usual bricks. To create a piece of brick, 10 kilograms plastic waste is required. The average brick making time is also quite short, only 30-45 seconds.
Recycled building material tend to be more economical, and it could be one of the solutions for the increasing building material price. Eventhough it is made of used goods, recycled material is quite strong when compared to normal building material. To achieve a strong building, you have to pay attention to the main material used in construction, such as cement. Make sure to use premium quality cement, such as Semen Merah Putih for a stronger and more durable building result.
