At Cheapest Load of Rubbish, we’re always looking at new ways to recycle and reuse unwanted goods.
We’ve rehouse thousands of items including household furniture, old building materials, even plants. But we’re most pleased by placing good quality disability equipment with people that are most in need.
That’s why we’re so happy to have found someone else in the world who through innovative recycling, is building “low-cost, safe and durable housing” [1] for the homeless.
Unilever believes in sustainable living, and each year hosts The Unilever Sustainable Living Young Entrepreneur Awards.
This year, Oscar Andres Mendez Gerardino of Conceptos Plasticos (one of the 7 winning entrepreneurs) has transformed waste plastic into usable construction materials. This process not only stops plastic from being sent to landfill, but has given the homeless of Columbia a chance to live in safe housing.
“It takes five days for four people to assemble a house of 40 square metres. Conceptos Plasticos have built nearly 1,500 square metres of houses and shelters in several regions across Colombia and are currently obtaining permits for construction of 500 square metres more in the city of Cartagena. They have used over 300 tonnes of post-industrial and post-consumer plastics in the process. In 2016, Conceptos Plasticos want to build 240 new homes, benefiting 1,200 people. By 2018 they plan to build 600 a year, positively impacting 3,000 people.”[1]
What an amazing idea from an amazing person. Well done Oscar. Your work is LIFE CHANGING!
- https://www.unilever.com/sustainable-living/join-in/Young-Entrepreneur-Awards-2016/Oscar-Andres-Mendez-Gerardino/
