Students create water-proof bricks from recycled plastic bottles

The “Wricks” are made from a mix of plastic, marble dust and fly ash

Spotted: Students at the Techno India NJR Institute of Technology have developed the technology to turn plastic waste into water-proof, eco-friendly bricks. The bricks, known as “wricks,” have the potential to reduce air pollution, conserve water and prevent erosion, the students say.

The students started working on wricks after noticing how many plastic bottles were thrown away at the university. Wricks are made from a mix of plastic, marble dust and fly ash.

Fly ash is a byproduct produced by coal-fired boilers and a common ingredient in bricks. Wricks also contain marble dust, which is a major waste product in Udaipur municipality. By using marble dust in the bricks, the students are reducing the volume that is dumped in local lakes.

Wricks are lighter than traditional bricks and are strong enough to be used in building construction, according to the students. That means they could be a safer option for earthquake-prone areas as they reduce the overall weight of buildings. In addition, they repurpose plastic waste, reducing the amount that ends up in the landfill. 

The students are already working with the local municipality to purchase waste plastic at low cost. They estimate the wricks will cost €0.05 per brick, roughly half the price of traditional bricks. The students are currently working to improve the product. They estimate it will be commercially available in 2020.