From Trash to Treasure: An Indonesian Activist Builds a Home from 35,000 Plastic Bags

Think recycling plastic bottles and bags just creates more plastic? You need to see what Gary Bencheghib from Bali did with the massive trash he collected. This environmental activist decided not only to gather the heaps of plastic left on beaches daily but also to transform them into something extraordinary: his very own recycled home. “It started as an experiment and personal project,” he explains, “but eventually, it shows people how vital recycling is and what can truly be made from plastic."

The house itself, a cozy 130 square feet, includes everything a regular home needs. It boasts a functional kitchen with utensils, a bathroom, and a bedroom. Solar energy powers the house, making it a green and environmentally-friendly dwelling. Cabinets, which appear as regular wooden cabinets, were once plastic cups discarded on the shore—so were the bed and shower tiles.

At 28, Bencheghib dreams of turning his home into a prototype for more houses, especially as a solution for those who lose their homes to natural disasters.

(Photo: Kan 11)