Mar 09, 2012
Ecology on Stone Island
I was first introduced to building homes out of plastic bottles in July of 2011. Rather than repeat myself please click here to read what I had discovered. Then in January this year yet another article was written about these plastic bottle homes on the Mazatlan Exchange Forum, encouraging everyone in Mazatlan to become involved in saving their empty 600 ml and 1 liter bottles with the lids. It can take up to 6000 bottles to build a small home. There is a government sponsored program, for a very limited time I understand, to help a few of the less fortunate here on the Isla build these homes. Cement and other construction costs run about 40,000 pesos ( about $3150.00 USD ) per home.
Avy knew where 2 of the homes were and we found 3 more. The homes are not large but so much better than a shack. The home owner collects the empty plastic pop bottles and then takes them down to the beach and just fills them with sand. Last December there was a young family filling their bottles just below our place here. For some reason, perhaps because I felt it was so very personal, I chose not to take a photo. They had 3 young children and all of the family was involved in filling the bottles, but the parents made it a game, and played with the kids and just had a marvellous time. They rolled in the sand and laughed but kept filling the bottles. The hard part was carting the full and much heavier bottles back up to their vehicle. I love how they have been creative with the design. Plastic bottles and cement = home!!
This is the inside of the same home.....they have covered the inside with a layer of cement. The home is wired for 25 to 30 AMPS of electricity. Out back they were building a patio out of cement. The inside is not very large but to them it is a palace.
This was the first bottle home competed on the Isla and a few more details are on my previous post mentioned above. This home was built with Sprite bottles plus they added colour to the cement. The front door looks to be of a very fine material and has a lock on it. What you don't see is behind the house. To me it was obvious that this is where the family use to primarily reside, a tar paper shack. Now they have a 4 X 4 square metre home safe from the elements.
This home was under construction just down the road in the Colonia. I loved that they had added a front porch area complete with palapa.
Quite by accident we found this hexagon building. I don't think it is a home but perhaps a church or a gathering place. I think it was the design of the yellow bottles above the blue that made me think that. Rather than a cement roof this place had a thatched palapa cover. The front was a large door made of wooden pieces latched shut with a huge padlock. The property surrounding this one is large area enclosed with a fence.
I have no idea how many more are to be built here on the Isla under the Government Program but empty bottles with lids are the primary building tool. Everyone here on Stone Island are doing their part. I even saw one of the beach vendors who lives in Mazatlan carefully deposit an empty bottle the other idea. She who had nothing to give did what she could!
So whether you are inMazatlan or on the Isla or have the means to bring in a bag of empties next time you come this way, please do your part.
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Oh my, what a great idea, wish there was a way for us to participate – we recycle so many plastic bottles! I went back and read your original post, Contessa, some how I missed it last year. This whole thing just brought tears to my eyes. Bless all those who are involved with this project!
VERBOTEN! I’m not allowed to read your earlier post. I’m chastised.
But, this idea is WONDERFUL! I’ve been feeling a little not-at-home here in this place where they don’t even recycle (“let’s dig stuff up and make more!”), but what a great way to reuse. Do the bottles provide structural support? Oh, the questions that might be answered if I could only read your earlier post.
*slink*
Roxanne
Roxanne…I think there were internet VERBOTEN problems all over yesterday. Cement is used between the bottles.
Connie…here I am in Culiacan looking for plastic empties:)
Sandie….we are together….Caeli better but not Carmeh!!!
Marty….tiny by our standards but a palace to them. I think they all cook outside.
George…the entire world could benefit from this.
Nevermind! It opened for me this time.
*sheepish*
I had to go back and read your other post. This is an amazing program. And I sure hope the girls are better (much better) today. Have you heard from your sweetie yet?
I had the same problem as The Good Luck Duck, but this time it opened just fine. Maybe your Stone Island Internet is being stinky again!
Their houses are tiny, but they can live outside a lot and I’m sure they do.
Love the way they are recycling theses bottles.
Contessa, WOW, love those homes specially the one with the straw-roof material which is very insulating, thus the house interior keeps very cool in summer & warm in winter-time. My regards: Lucy.