From plastic pollution to homes for the poor

Technology startup ByFusion is developing apparatus that can convert every type of waste plastic into a new building material, dubbed RePlast

Compact: Machine fits inside regular 12m (40ft) shipping container

600-gallon tank recycles waste water and can be used continuously for 10-16 weeks

Brick

Plastic trash: Enters machine

Shredder:Plastic reduced to smaller pieces

Minimal staff and training required to operate

Water boiler and compactor: Super- heated water and compression used to fuse plastics into RePlast building bricks. Process is non-toxic and uses no adhesives

Metal plate

Rebar steel rods

REPLAST WALL

Tape

Chicken wire

Two layers of mortar

No cement required between bricks. Instead, metal plate bolted to top of wall, using steel rods, keeps structure secure

Bricks are excellent insulators and could be used to build homes in poor parts of world. Plastic waste sourced from ocean pollution


ALL PLASTICS SUITABLE (individually or mixed, clean or contaminated)

PETE HDPE V LDPE PP PS Other
Polyethylene Terephthalate High Density Polyethylene Vinyl Low Density
Polyethylene Polyethylene Polystyrene

Sources: ByFusion, wire agencies

*Cannot be used individually