Workers at a recycling plant in central Mexico are turning five and a half tonnes of discarded plastic bottles and old toys every day into strong building materials, helping low-income families get better homes while keeping waste out of local dumps. The process, developed in 2013 by social enterprise EcoDom in Puebla state, turns melted plastic waste into strong wall and roofing panels.

Plastic production has increased exponentially over the last few decades. A 2017 study published in Science Advances estimated that 8.3 billion tons of plastic have been produced…

Workers at a recycling plant in central Mexico are turning five and a half tonnes of discarded plastic bottles and old toys every day into strong building materials, helping…