According to the South African government, Human Rights Day which is commemorated on 21 March aims to remind South Africans about the sacrifices that paved the way to democracy. As part of a four-part series that explores human rights, the Northglen News chats to two Durban North residents who are striving for a clean environment.
SOUTH African government places environmental sustainability in the context of human health, stating, “Everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being.” This includes sustainable living for future generations.
For Durban North mother-and-daughter-duo, Jacky Marsden and Enid Gaines, keeping their environment clean also supports the right to housing, as they ‘kill two birds with one brick’. The pair are doing what they can to keep their local environment clean by making ecobricks, which are plastic bottles stuffed to the brim with non recyclable material.
Marsden said she tries to live sustainability, and as someone with an avid interest in recycling, ecobricks immediately sparked her interest.
“Its part of who I am really. I recycle regularity and use Jojo tanks as well,” she said.
While Marsden works full time, Gaines took up the challenge of making ecobricks, to add to her daughter’s efforts. She has made 48 ecobricks in the last two weeks and each brick uses up enough plastic to fill at least two shopping packets.
Also read: More than chains – 21st century slavery
“You would be amazed at how much plastic goes into each brick. It takes an absolutely massive amount. Sometimes, even two shopping bags-full of plastic is not enough,” she said.
The Durban North duo have sent their ecobricks to Waste-ED, a Cape Town organisation which has diverted 100 000kgs of plastic from the landfill through ecobricks. This according to their website, which adds that ecobricks are are used to build furniture and, in some cases, larger structures such as homes.
“Ecobricks head to our workshop or storage spaces where we either use them to make modula furniture or use them in our bigger builds using clay or cob techniques. Some are distributed to those requesting bricks from us,” said Candice Mostert, director and founder of Waste-ED.
“These bottle bricks have been used around the world for over 20 years as an insulative building brick and a powerful tool to connect people with their waste,” she added.
The ecobrick’s dual-purpose spurs Marsden and Gains on to continue their project.
“I came across the ecobricks one day and it was amazing to see what gets done and who it helps. I think, government or private organisations could push the ecobrick production in the community to help people to build houses. It’s probably not as cheap as we would think, in terms of design and reinforcement, but, if you don’t have a supply of bricks, perhaps this could be an alternative,” she added.
“Bricks are expensive, this costs nothing,” added Gaines.
She collects plastic from local shops and friends, routinely visiting a bottle store, pub and a local butcher, which gives her the plastic bags that their uniforms come in after being sent for dry cleaning.
Also read: North Durban residents campaign for the ‘write’ to literacy and education
“I’ve got the most wonderful suppliers. They are priceless,” said Gaines.
While plenty of people supply the ecowarriors with plastic, Marsden encouraged more community members to take up the task of making ecobricks as well.
“People don’t actually take it on. It doesn’t cost anything to do,” she said.
“I sit here all day just filling bottles. In an hour, if I work flat-out, I can make two and a half ecobricks,” added Gaines.
She starts by cutting the plastic into manageable sizes and ensuring it is clean and dry before packing it tightly into the bottles.
“It’s got to be compact. It’s got to be like a brick in the end,” said Gaines.
“There are guidelines with ecobricks, you can’t use food-covered plastic, it has to be clean,” added Marsden.
The Broom Closet, a charity shop based in Durban North accepts ecobrick donations which they send to the Wild Animal Trauma Centre & Haven (WATCH), a Vryheid rehabilitation centre which hopes to collect some 1500 ecobricks to build a nursery for orphaned vervet monkeys.
You can also sign up for news alerts on Telegram. Send us a Telegram message (not an SMS) with your name and surname (ONLY) to 060 532 5532. 
Here’s where you can download Telegram on Android or Apple.
