You maybe asking, “What is an EcoBrick?” An EcoBrick is a storage device for clean and dry plastics that may not have the opportunity to be recycled. Many of the plastic materials we use in our lives are not able to be recycled because of their composition. Unfortunately, many of these items end up as litter, can pollute ecosystems, or just live out their long lives as landfill waste. Thin plastic packages and packaging for boxes are especially problems for recycling and littering. EcoBricks help sequester that plastic and create dense bottles that can be used as building materials.
Here at Penn State Schuylkill we are taking our turn at making EcoBricks. During Fall 2021 semester, we had the BISC 3 class participating in their own EcoBrick challenge. Each student tracked their plastic waste production, made EcoBricks, and after the weather breaks, we will actually be using them within our Community Garden as markers for our native pollinators. With the project, we are able to take plastic waste out of the environment and also create unique markers for our Garden.
If you are interested in learning more about EcoBricks or how to make them at home, please check out the EcoBrick website. We are working on some new plans for projects using EcoBricks around campus and we’ll send updates as we continue. You can check out our progress on our Penn State Schuylkill EcoBrick website.