7,800 PET bottles to build house

The versatility of used PET bottles knows no bounds. Filled with water, they make light bulbs (21 September); recycled, they can be turned into bridges (22 November); and filled with sand, they are now being stacked on their side to build houses in Nigeria.

25 homes are being constructed in the first phase. 7,800 bottles are enough for a round building containing a bedroom, living room, bathroom, toilet and kitchen. They are 20 times stronger than bricks, more durable and better insulated.

The story was covered by bbc.co.uk on 9 November, quoting Zenith International for bottled water market statistics.