A Nigerian engineer has built a three-bedroom flat using 14,800 sand-filled plastic bottles as part of efforts to combat plastic waste.

The director of the Developmental Association of Renewable Energies in Nigeria (DARE), who led the team that delivered the project, said the aim is to promote recycling, create employment, and offer an affordable, eco-friendly housing solution.

Developed in Unguwar Yalwa on the Kaduna-Zaria Road is said to be the first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa.

Construction workers filled discarded plastic bottles with sand and tied them together at the neck using strong strings, creating a sturdy structure.

“This is one of the cheapest types of houses anyone can build, as the materials are found in our streets and dumps,” Ahmed told reporters, adding that the house is “20 times stronger than a brick wall, can last over 300 years if built correctly, and is resistant to fire, bullets, and earthquakes.”

The house features three rooms, a toilet, and a kitchen. Beyond affordability, Ahmed believes bottle houses offer a real solution to environmental hazards caused by plastic waste.

Speaking during the project showcase, Mr. Piman Hoffman, Assistant Director of African Climate Reporters, called on the government to support renewable energy initiatives and sustainable construction methods.

“Every year, billions of plastic bottles are discarded—many ending up in landfills, rivers, and oceans, especially in poorer countries,” Mr. Hoffman said.

“It’s time to support innovations like this that turn waste into opportunity and help tackle ecological threats,” Mr. Hoffman further stated.

Tons of plastic waste are released into the environment annually, contributing significantly to the country’s plastic pollution crisis.