Eco Bricks- What Are They?

By Kendall Beisser, Grade 8

Let's start with the question you are probably asking yourself right now. What are Eco-bricks? Eco-bricks are PET bottles that are filled with plastics. You can fill these Eco-bricks with any form of plastic, just as long as it is clean and dry. You may use many different kinds of things. For example, candy wrappers, plastic wraps, plastic straws, plastic bags, and many more types of plastics. After you put the plastic in the bottles, you push it down until the bottles are compact.

The Eco-bricks can be donated to a local Eco-brick donation center. The bricks can be used to make many different things that will help people. They can make structures, gardens, modular units, lego-furniture, and a lot more different useful things. One of the most important things about Eco-bricks is the impact they have on the environment. The Eco-bricks are helping keep the oceans free of plastic, stopping plastics from turning into toxic material and keeping microplastics out of the water we drink.

Eco-bricks also send a deeper message to the younger and older generations about how the world needs our help. Recently, microplastics have been found in marine animals and drinking water. We don't have much time to change how things are done so that our world can still be a safe home for us. So doing anything you can do to help our world is very important. The Earth needs your help, and making Eco-bricks is one of the many ways you can help.

Now you might be asking, how can you start Eco-bricking? Good question, I've got a simple answer. You can start right now! Grab a PET bottle and start putting plastic in it. The plastic has to be dry and clean. Styrofoam, bags, packaging, plastic utensils, and clear plastic are good things to put in there. Remember to make sure it is packed tightly full of plastic before putting its cap on. Go to, The Brik Market and look at where you can turn your Eco-bricks in, or you can use Eco-bricks for your own home projects!

Good Luck Eco-bricking!