Incorporation of plastics and other recyclables into building materials in Nicaragua

Abstract

For three communities in Nicaragua: Bluefields, Little Corn Island, and Corn Island, incentives are needed to motivate residents to not burn their trash and recyclables. There are various methods that could encourage recycling and garbage collection, although not all are appropriate for this particular community. After evaluating various project ideas, it was determined that incorporating recyclables into building materials would be a promising method for getting use out of the recyclables. Various processes for incorporating plastic into building materials were evaluated. The Pura Vida wall used in Guatemala offers a promising building design to encourage residents of these Nicaraguan communities to utilize their plastic bottles and bags. The wall frame and foundation are made of concrete and wood, but the majority of the wall's volume is composed of trash and plastic bottles. Pending further research, this design could possibly be altered for use in the walls of fixed-dome biogas digesters. A dissemination plan has been formed to test these designs in the Nicaraguan communities with a local NGO called BlueEnergy.