Science, Tech & Environment

Nigeria turns to empty plastic bottles to build homes in remote villages


A Nigerian house in Kaduna, made of recycled plastic bottles. (Photo by Sam Olukoya/BBC.)


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In Kaduna, Nigeria, Muslims and Christians coexist, despite religious tensions and especially since the implementation of Sharia law in 2001.

A more pressing issue in the community founded by the British in the early 20th century is environmental. Because drinking tap water is not safe in most of Niegeria, people consume a lot of bottled water, creating a lot of trash.

One non-governmental organization thought it’d be a good idea to use those empty plastic bottles as building materials. In fact, they’re building homes a few miles outside the city.

Just outside of Kaduna, you’ll find the village of Yelwa.

That village is now the site of Nigeria’s first-ever house built out of recycled plastic bottles. It’s a one bedroom setup with all the comforts of home.

It required 8,000 bottles, and is built in the round style of traditional Northern Nigerian houses.

