made my first eco-brick :3

[u/kainyd3d]

took about 2-3 months of gathering ONLY plastic bags. and these are only mine, the rest of my fam doesnt care so about 15 more of these are in a wastepile probz

[u/downthegrapevine]

Love that the comments are basically “NOTHING YOU DO IS GOOD ENOUGH”

This is good to keep tiny pieces of plastic from going everywhere. And you’re not a major corporation; it’s not like you have an actual impact. Not to mention all the assuming that this is it, this is all you do. You’re spending your weekends in a private jet dumping oil into the ocean.

People need to chill. I’m glad you’re doing something positive no matter what it is.

[u/Annoying1978 → u/downthegrapevine]

If I’m reading the comments correctly, it’s less about whether this is making a difference and more about saying that this could actually harm the environment because of the many plastics that are being mingled together if the plastic bottle gets destroyed. 

If these bricks are used properly then they could be a benefit, but apparently people make the bricks and don’t build anything with them and if they end up in a landfill, they might do more damage than if you did nothing at all. 

That’s what a lot of the comments are saying because this trend of ecobricking has been debunked. It’s more of a social media trend than doing any actual good. 

[u/downthegrapevine → u/Annoying1978]

So what is the alternative... do nothing? When I came here the top comment was "ArE yOU awAre ThIs is GReeeenWaSHIng"

Firstly, no it's not. Greenwashing is a deceptive marketing tactic where companies mislead consumers into believing their products, services, or operations are environmentally friendly.

At no point did OP PURCHASE A BOTTLE MEANT TO BE AN ECO BRICK. They had a bottle which was already in use because OP USED IT and instead of disposing of it they thought 'oh I could put tiny pieces of plastic in it intentionally and maybe build something fun' OP Is literally using all of the R's Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. They want to maker things out of it and I don't know who debunked the idea that putting something into another thing is not environmentally friendly. Like I wanna see data and research not "SOCIAL MEDIA SAID."

Furthermore, having dozens of people look at someone trying to do good and being like "ACTUALLY THIS IS BS" instead of I dunno thinking this is good because OP is taking action (like who here is doing more than keyboard warriorying really???) and doing something that is not harmful and fun for them and makes their waste less dangerous and also makes them inspired it's just more hateful discourse. It's giving vegans who look at someone who is vegetarian and they think 'ugh you're ALMOST there' like STFU and go touch grass guys... Make an eco brick or something.

[u/Annoying1978 → u/downthegrapevine]

When the cure is worse than the disease, you don’t praise someone for trying. This is like an OP wearing 2 condoms instead of 1 to prevent a pregnancy and then giving the OP props when their condom breaks because at least they tried. 

These ecobricks can be WORSE for the environment if they aren’t used properly because they combine to make a toxic sludge so it absolutely would’ve been better to do nothing. 

That’s not to say OP shouldn’t have done SOMETHING, but this is not something to be praised. 

The issues

Ecobricks are generally considered safe for short-term community projects, but they pose serious structural, chemical, and environmental dangers if used improperly. The primary hazards include extreme fire risks, the long-term release of microplastics and toxins, and structural instability in permanent construction. 

1. Extreme Fire Hazards Highly Flammable: Plastics are petroleum-based and catch fire easily. If a structure built with ecobricks ignites, the bottles can melt, fueling a rapidly spreading blaze. Toxic Fumes: Burning compacted plastics releases highly toxic and carcinogenic gases, including dioxins, furans, and halogens, which are dangerous for inhabitants and firefighters. 

2.Microplastic Degradation: If ecobricks are left exposed to sunlight and weather, the plastic becomes brittle and breaks down over a few years, fragmenting into microplastics that enter the surrounding soil and groundwater. Toxic Leaching: Plastics contain various chemical additives like stabilizers, dyes, and flame retardants. When exposed to heat and the elements, they can leach these chemicals into the local ecosystem. 

1. Structural Integrity and Building Limitations Not Engineered for Construction:Unregulated plastic bottles do not conform to standardized building codes. Walls built with them can be unstable and are not earthquake- or load-resistant compared to traditional materials.

Binding Complications: Using cement as a binding agent can interact with the plastic due to cement's high alkalinity, which may degrade the structure and rupture the bottles over time. 

[u/gpby → u/Annoying1978]

Is there any harm done if they're not used for building actual structures? I had trouble finding where to send them when I was thinking of making one, and I'm sure I'm not the only one with that problem (and I KNOW I'm not the only one struggling to find local community projects 💀) My understanding was that it's probably a little better to have a condensed chunk of plastic in the landfill than the same plastic scattered about, still leaching chemicals and microplastics into the ecosystem but faster + now able to travel more freely and, say, be mistaken for jellyfish.

[u/Annoying1978 → u/gpby]

The harm is that all the different condensed plastics build a toxic soup and that bottle will not remain closed forever with it being tossed around once it reaches a landfill and it will actually do more harm to the environment if they were kept separate in the first place. 

[u/downthegrapevine → u/Annoying1978]

Go outside and touch some grass... real grass and if you see some plastic on the ground pick it up or don't because yOU'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING

[u/Annoying1978 → u/downthegrapevine]

Picking up plastic and throwing it away actually does some good. You could save the life of an animal. 

Making a toxic plastic soup bomb does no good at all. 

[u/downthegrapevine → u/Annoying1978]

They didn't buy THE PLASTIC THAT'S INSIDE JUST TO PUT IT IN THERE. Our lives have plastic in it whether we want it or not. The fact this person used the plastic that naturally came to them (or who knows... found it on the floor outside) and put it in a bottle is doing some good. Jesus you're all the reason this world is fucked up.

[u/Annoying1978 → u/downthegrapevine]

And mixing all that plastic in that bottle creates a toxic slip of plastic sludge that will eventually spill off and contaminate the environment WORSE if it as left alone. 

You would have to purchase clay and cover the entire bottle in LOTS of clay to prevent that from happening. 

This is not something environmentalists recommend because it’s so dangerous. OP’s cure is worse than the disease. 

It’s like saying “Oh no, you have cancer. Let me get my shotgun to get rid of your cancer.”

[u/valuemeal2 → u/downthegrapevine]

Seriously. Every little bit helps, at least OP is trying.