Fiji Explores Plastic Waste Homes Through 3D Printing
Fiji is exploring the use of plastic waste homes as part of a new project that aims to turn hard-to-recycle plastic into construction material for climate-resilient housing.
The initiative is being developed by the Pacific Recycling Foundation (PRF) and the University of New South Wales (UNSW). The project will examine how recycled plastic could be used in 3D printing to create housing suited to local conditions.
Testing recycled plastic for homes
The first model house is planned for a farm in Fiji. The project team will use the site to test the technology and assess how the approach works in the country's local conditions.
The development will involve architects and engineers as the proposed homes will need to meet building compliance requirements. This means the project will assess not only the use of recycled plastic as a construction material but also the requirements involved in developing homes with the technology.
Amitesh Deo, Founder and CEO of the Pacific Recycling Foundation, said efforts to develop a circular economy should involve grassroots organisations and community recyclers that are already working with waste.
UNSW Professor Hank Haeusler said the use of recycled plastic in 3D-printed homes could potentially address plastic pollution while also supporting the development of climate-resilient housing.
The project is expected to produce best practices that could eventually support wider adoption across Fiji. The team also hopes that the knowledge developed through the work could be shared with other Pacific countries.
The initiative was presented at the Sydney Circular Economy Hotspot, where Pacific recyclers discussed waste challenges in the region through art, culture and storytelling.
For Fiji, the project brings together waste management and housing development in a single research effort. Its initial model house will provide an opportunity to test whether recycled plastic-based 3D printing can meet practical housing and building requirements in local conditions.
