Bishnupur (WB): Bricks made out of plastic? That too, single-use plastics? Local civic authorities in West Bengal's Bishnupur district are doing just that, and the move has already generated much enthusiasm.
The initiative was first envisaged by the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) of Bishnupur in Bankura district.
The officer, Manas Mandal, tried his hands in making brick-like structures by stuffing rejected single-use plastic bags in plastic pet jar bottles.
Once the bottles were completely packed, they took a solid shape, which could later be used as bricks.
Mandal had also engaged his son in this endeavour of his. Once successful, he then gradually started spreading the word.
“Initially we tried to encourage school kids in making these eco-friendly bricks. Primary schools located in Bishnupur town were approached with the idea and they readily agreed. Gradually word was then spread outside Bishnupur, in the neighbouring villages. The response was extremely encouraging from there also,” said Mandal.
The officer had first put his eco-bricks in use while beautifying his office compound.
The trees on the compound were encircled while constructing the boundaries.
The eco-bricks have also been used to construct seating arrangements in the SDO office's common area.
How Eco-Bricks are made?
Discarded plastic pet jars and bottles keep hampering ecological balance as well as polluting the surroundings.
These discarded bottles and jars form the base of Eco-Bricks. Single-use plastic carry bags are stuffed inside these discarded bottles and the stiffened bottles eventually turn into brick-like structures.
The polybags-filled discarded plastic bottle-bricks are then used in construction.
Who makes Eco-Bricks?
Bishnupur sub-divisional administration had first started a campaign on eco-bricks among the students as well as the school education department.
The plea was to include Eco-Brick making as part of the work education curriculum.
Additional numbers were allotted for the projects and students started making the bricks.
The administration now says that the number of Eco-Bricks received from each primary school is between 500 and 1000. Once received, these Eco-Bricks are then used to construct boundary walls and other constructions at public places.
SDO Mandal also said, “Once we were successful in reaching out to schools and students in Bishnupur town, we focused on the villages. Most villages depend on agriculture and discarded plastic are a genuine threat to cultivable land. Our campaign is already paying dividends and we are receiving a good number of Eco-Bricks from the village schools. We only hope that the Eco-Bricks reduce the rampant use of Single-use Plastic.”
