Trash is increasingly becoming a bigger problem to the ecosystem, as global population grows at an alarming rate every year. Unless a solution is soon found, we might have to face a lot of trouble in the future.
Singapore found a ingenious way to mange garbage by converting a landfill into a man-made island, which is now home to fishermen. On the other side of the world, off the cost of Isla Mujeres Bay in Cancun, Mexico, a British architect by the name of Richart Sowa has built his own floating island using over 150,000 recycled water bottles. The island was Initially 20 metres (66 ft) in diameter and was eventually expanded to 25 metres (82 ft). The floating peace of land is open to visitors from 11 am to 6pm.
Image Courtesy: theplaidzebra
The island was constructed using bags of plastic bottles secured together with a bamboo frame. This land mass is able to
support a three-storey house, trees & plants and 2 ponds. The house is fully equipped, with 2 bedrooms, kitchen and bathroom.
It even has an echo-friendly toilet where human waist is used as compost for the vegetation growing on the island. Collected rain water is used to provide running water for showers and sinks which are made out of shells. The house is powered by solar electricity and even gets internet through a chord which connects to the mainland.
The house is surrounded by palm trees, mangroves, fruit trees and other plants which grow from the soil layer laid out on the island. Sowas say that he roots of the mangroves have strengthened the entire island, protecting the plastic bottles against breakage.
Sowa does not live alone in this island. Back in 2014 he met Jodi Bowlin, a former supermodel from Knoxville, Tennessee on Facebook. The two soon hit it off and long-story-short, they now live together along with a pet dog on the island. He makes a living out of making music, artwork and donations from visitors.
Sowa continues to improve the features of the island and plans to make it fully self-sufficient one day. He is already working on an AC system which can circulate cool air generated by water waves.
