A foundation working in low-income barrios has come up with new technology for building blocks from recycled material. The blocks are made using old newspapers and paper waste and a minimal amount of cement and sand yet they weigh only seven pounds. Studies have shown that the blocks are just as resistant as the more costly 30-lb blocks made using cement.
As reported in Hoy, Geovanny Guzman is leading the Fucosagucigua27 foundation in its task of making the first 20,000 ecological blocks that he says will revolutionize the construction industry over the coming months. He says that they are also using plastic bottles to build houses in vulnerable areas of the northern National District, with walls that are resistant to fire, earthquakes and other natural phenomena. He said that using the waste paper to build the blocks makes collecting old newspapers and paper waste cost-efficient.
www.hoy.com.do/el-pais/2013/8/26/495811/En-barrios-DN-utilizan-basura-para-construir-block-ecologico