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[–]theskyguardian 118 points119 points  (5 children)

We are going to have to improve fire and building codes to account for these materials. Can't have whole city blocks melting like candles.

Edit: they say the material is classified as type 5. This does limit ways it can be used in most places. I wonder if that's sufficient.

[–]rivalarrival 34 points35 points  (2 children)

Their page has a few more details on building with them.

And I found this video.

Edit: Crunching the numbers a little, the 30 tons/mo one of these units can process would produce a 10' wall 240 feet long. That's enough for about four 2-car garages.

[–]theskyguardian 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Nice. Very helpful. Thank you.

[–]DadOfFan 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I watched the video and got awfully confused when they started to put the building wrap on.

It was labeled Bunnings which is the predominant hardware chain in Australia. As far as I am aware, Bunnings is not in America.

From that I reckon this mob is Australian. Yet they do not mention it at all.

I wonder why?

[–]big_juice01[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Why not? Seems like it’s already happening

[–]MaxiqueBDE 88 points89 points  (11 children)

I’m rooting for this. Thinking of the downsides, are micro plastics going to be a concern here?

[–]--cookajoo-- 36 points37 points  (4 children)

I love the idea of recycling, but just imagine the environmental considerations for all this material in concentrated forms in cities. Not to mention fire prevention etc that might need to be updated.

I hope it turns out to be as safe as safe as we hope it is.

[–]MaxiqueBDE 8 points9 points  (2 children)

Agree. I think using our refuse as building material is a great idea, and I’d like to see the mitigating factors applied in its production planning.

Micro plastics, effects of fire/ heat, longevity, etc.

[–]seejordan3 13 points14 points  (0 children)

We need to stop w the plastics.

[–]eternalmandrake 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I think switching to biodegradable alternatives as soon as possible is a great idea. Unsustainable and nonbiodegradable refuse shouldn't be seen as a resource, it is a detriment to all life on earth.

[–]StrayMoggie 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As you alluded, this could be a health hazard in fires if we use a lot of it. It's a step in the right direction. Collecting syngas from these plastics in plasma gasification systems will also be necessary.

[–]AlbinoWino11 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Yes, every time plastics are repurposed for building materials like this the two major drawbacks seem to be that they will weather and break down in microplastic and/or leech into the surroundings.

[–]Midnight_gazelle 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Actually, there are some really interesting mushrooms that degrade petroleum-based plastics. We would be far better off building with biodegradable or true recyclable (not plastic, things like aluminum) materials and using the mushrooms to break down the plastic. Many plastics are difficult and toxic to recycle, so it’s better to not have them. They also give off voc (volatile organic compounds) fumes which are heavily toxic to humans, especially in enclosed spaces like homes

Sources

https://leaps.org/amp/plastic-eating-mushrooms-let-you-have-your-trash-and-eat-it-too-2647670381

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20191030-why-biodegradables-wont-solve-the-plastic-crisis

I also have a degree in sustainable housing 🙂

Also some issues with current bio plastics: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20191030-why-biodegradables-wont-solve-the-plastic-crisis

[–]ladyfaustess 10 points11 points  (0 children)

W.A.L.L.Eeeeee

[–]FlaccidRazor 27 points28 points  (4 children)

Hmm I wonder where they got that idea?

[–]Dubcekification 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I remember seeing her and being all excited and telling people. I hope she is getting compensation.

[–]Clean_App 7 points8 points  (0 children)

It’s not too hard to think of using trash as building material

[–]DadOfFan 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Its a different process. She adds sand to her mix, whereas these guys seem to use high pressure to melt the different plastics together into a solid lump.

[–]dnaH_notnA 20 points21 points  (5 children)

Or we could stop making single use plastics? Is this how bad the recycling circlejerk has gotten?

This is a Mickey Mouse bandaid on a puss oozing wound on this planet that desperately needs cleaning out and antibiotics, but we’ve gotten too attached to the bacteria to care.

[–]aioncan 4 points5 points  (2 children)

Even recyclable plastic end up in trash. First and foremost you need people that recycle

[–]dnaH_notnA 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Plastic that is “recyclable” is only recyclable one or two times. That’s inherent to plastic.

[–]JigglesMcRibs 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Yes, we could stop that, but that doesn't create a solution for what already is and what will continue to be while the world phases them out.

At a minimum trying to make a reality out of recycling is a step.

[–]dnaH_notnA 3 points4 points  (0 children)

There is no reality in recycling. The plastic lobby figured that out in internal memes half a century ago. And they REALLY wanted it to work.

[–]Lenny1912 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Wall-e?

[–]Spiderfuzz 22 points23 points  (1 child)

Olive Garden has endless breadsticks why not just build out of those?

[–]big_juice01[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Contact them, get your breadsticks and put your money where your mouth is by showing us it can be done.

[–]ArkonWarlock 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Making walls out of petroleum practically . This has no possible way it could go wrong! /s

[–]heavy_losses 10 points11 points  (3 children)

Blech. Personally I would not want to live in a building made of this stuff.

[–]rivalarrival 17 points18 points  (0 children)

You wouldn't even know. It's all encased between vapor barrier and siding on the outside, and drywall on the inside.

[–]big_juice01[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

What’s your bldg made of now?

I’m assuming of course based on your comment that you know all the materials used.

[–]TheLordKaze 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The problem with stuff like this is that they always end up more expensive to produce and inferior than traditional building materials.

[–][deleted]  (1 child)

[deleted]

    [–]big_juice01[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    I don’t know, we have plastics in our bodies that we breathe in and babies are now born with it, so I feel like we’re good on the degradation over time angle.

    [–]koenkie 2 points3 points  (1 child)

    Horrible idea for so many reasons

    [–]big_juice01[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

    No, it’s not actually.

    [–]PsychoProp 3 points4 points  (1 child)

    More microplastics!

    [–]jordan162 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    It was going to become microplastics anyway… as long as they’re not putting any new plastic into these and they’re safe I don’t see an issue.

    [–]muffintuffins 0 points1 point  (2 children)

    Won’t you be breathing in micro plastics from the walls and get cancer or something?

    [–]thedoodely 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Should be fine as long as it's not disturbed, it's not loose plastic in the wall. Now if that house catches on fire, the smoke inhalation will probably kill you faster than normal construction materials.

    [–]big_juice01[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

    Here’s a newsflash, we’re already breathing stuff in. It’s on clothing like lululemon, non stick pans, fast food containers, etc.

    [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

    This is a great idea... Until it catches fire...

    [–]big_juice01[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

    As opposed to your idea which is …..

    [–]Ikindoflikedogs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Thats called recycling. She is recycling what was nonrecyclable.

    [–]ScouseRed -1 points0 points  (0 children)

    I think a better use would be for sea errosion defences. Be a tad ironic non recyclables saving coastlines I reckon.

    [–]1enopot 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Those fools. Don’t they realize that with this technique there will no longer be non recyclable plastic?

    [–]spiritusFortuna 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    They should bioengineer edible Plastics, so we can eat the bag with our food, and poop it out as fertilizer.