Eco-Bricks
What is an Eco-brick?
An eco-brick is a plastic bottle packed with shredded, single-use, non-recyclable plastics, compressed to a required density to create a reusable building block. They are a sustainable way to reusenon-biodegradable plastic waste as they are regarded as a long-lasting and durable material.
Eco-bricks = a low energy solution to keeping plastic out of the ecosystem!
What is the purpose of an eco-brick?
Making an eco-brick can be a tedious and time-consuming project (but great to do whilst watching TV!) and the purpose of it is to make you responsible for your own plastic waste and encourage you to reduce your own consumption.
The aim is to help you cut down on what you’re buying and ultimately produce less waste whilst creating something beneficial for yourself or the community!
What goes into the eco-brick?
The most important thing about an eco-brick is that the contents are CLEAN and DRY before they get stuffed. The reason for this is to prevent any bacteria or mould forming inside, which will undo all your hard work as they will not be validated!
You can put inside an eco-brick:
Potato chip, biscuit, cake packets etc.
Stretchy plastic e.g., carrier bags, bread bags, clingfilm etc.
Pasta/rice packets
Packaging – bubble wrap/plastic envelopes
Styrofoam/polystyrene
Hard plastic – meat trays, flowerpots etc (however, hard plastics will need to be cut up into much smaller pieces than soft plastic to allow you to reach the weight requirements)
What can I make with an eco-brick?
The most common personal projects are footstools! They can be as small or as large as you want, you can be creative with the bottle bottom colours to make a cool pattern or cover them in some fabric to make a decorative piece around the house!
There are other smaller projects you can make, like doorstops for example! I am personally taking inspiration from this one found on Pinterest:
Ok, so how do I make one?
It is very simple! The picture below shows you how in 5 simple steps. The key is to just keep stuffing until you can’t any more! With time and patience, your brick will come to life.
What's your favourite recipe for gooseberry?
Love gooseberries? Share your favourite way to enjoy them. We're looking for our readers' favourite family recipes for this delicious crop. Send yours to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the magazine, you will receive a free copy of our December 2024 issue.
One week to go 🌸🌸🌸Garden and Art Festival - Volunteer!
Got a few spare hours next week?
Grab a friend and come down and volunteer at this year's Garden and Art Festival. There are sites across Tauranga Moana, including at the festival hub on The Strand.
Roles include:
🌸Ushering: Welcome festival pass holders at events downtown and across Tauranga.
🌸Parking Assistance: Help manage car parks and shuttle service stops for a smooth visitor experience.
🌸Staff Support: Aid festival staff with various tasks to keep everything running seamlessly.
For your amazing efforts you'll get a festival t-shirt that you can wear when you go and explore what's on with your complimentary festival pass. 🙌🙌🙌
For more details follow the link:
www.volunteeringservices.org.nz...
or email office@gardenandartfestival.co.nz to sign up.
💚Get involved in this iconic local celebration of community and creativity and help make this year's event a blooming success 💚
Respite care when you need it
From rehabilitation after a hospital stay, to a little extra support, whether it’s for a few nights or a few weeks - respite care provides temporary care in a range of circumstances.
If you still live in your own home, a short stay at one of our care centres could be a welcome break from your usual routine.
Our respite care is offered at rest home-level care, hospital and specialist dementia care. In some circumstances, we may be able to offer you respite care in a serviced apartment.
If you've been thinking about moving to a Ryman care centre, spending time with us in respite care is a great way for you to experience the lifestyle in our villages before making your decision.
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