Low Energy Glass Upcycling

Long description

The glass upcycling project on Gili Trawangan aims to address unrecyclable glass waste and mitigate the threat of unmanaged landfill fires and subsequent toxic emissions released from burning.

We’ve established a low cost, low energy solution to the sheer quantity of glass bottles thrown away each day on Gili Trawangan. Bottles are repurposed into heavy, durable construction bricks that are in high demand in an area of tourism and rapid development.

Key activities include:

-Glass collections daily from bars and residential areas

– Shredding bottles, broken glass and shards into aggregate

– Glass brick making – mixing with fresh water, cement powder and glue. Put into a commercial-sized brick mould and left to bake for 24-48 hours in the intensity of natural climate without the need of high energy kilns.

–  Workshop including cutter, grinder and sander to turn bottles into glassware and lampshades for restaurants

Traditionally, 100% of construction materials are imported from the mainland which is costly, bricks are in high demand.

Established in 2011, we need to upscale the project to increase production and maximise effectiveness along with assisting the replication on neighbouring islands to create empowerment utilising waste independently and locally.

The bricks are sold at a competitive price to encourage developers to purchase these sustainable, upcycled bricks over less hardy bricks made from saltwater and beach sand. They are sturdy and have been proven to be earthquake resilient, unlike other locally made bricks without the strength of the glass component.

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