{
  "id": 4681354,
  "title": "Plastic waste homes built in 7 days for $300",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/plastic-waste-homes-built-in-7-days-for-300",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-31T16:21:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/global-trends/these-sustainable-houses-built-from-waste-cost-under-300-2-tonnes-of-discarded-plastic-can-become-a-home-in-just-7-days/articleshow/133657728.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Mexico, a social enterprise called EcoDom has developed an innovative approach to address two major issues simultaneously: the growing amount of plastic waste and the shortage of affordable housing. Founded by Mexican entrepreneur Carlos Daniel González in 2013, the company has transformed discarded plastic waste into building panels, enabling the construction of small, affordable homes for approximately $280 each. Each home utilizes around 2 tonnes of plastic material and can be built in just seven days.\n\nGonzález, who grew up in Puebla and witnessed the effects of poverty and pollution around him, aimed to tackle these issues at the same time. Plastic waste is collected, sorted, chopped into small pieces, melted, and compressed into large panels that can be used for walls and roofs. The panels measure approximately 8 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 1 inch thick, with a typical house requiring about 80 panels.\n\nThese recycled plastic panels are designed to be durable, moisture-resistant, and capable of providing insulation while keeping construction costs low. The homes measure around 430 to 460 square feet and consist of two rooms, a bathroom, living space, and a kitchen. The company has already completed several municipal housing projects, building 500 rooms and securing contracts for another 300 homes in nearby Mexican towns. Additionally, EcoDom's facility processes around 5.5 tonnes of plastic waste daily.\n\nThe company also works with local waste collectors, offering better rates for the plastic they collect, thereby creating an additional source of income for those involved in waste collection. González envisions the potential for this model to grow exponentially beyond Mexico, tackling the global issue of plastic waste while providing low-cost housing for families in need.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}