Nestled within the botanical garden of Chandrapur, Maharashtra, stands a remarkable two-storey house designed by Dr Balmukund Paliwal.

This unique structure features a spacious hall, a bedroom, and a children’s playroom, all while offering stunning views of the surrounding garden.

What sets this house apart is its construction — done entirely from plastic waste!

Dr Paliwal, an anesthesiologist by profession, was always troubled by the growing plastic waste in landfills. “This plastic waste is not only harmful to the environment but also to human health.”

Soon, IAS Vivek Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of Zila Parishad, approached him with an opportunity to use plastic waste as a replacement for reinforced concrete in houses traditionally made of bricks and cement.

Dr Paliwal utilised various types of plastic, including potato chip packets, water bottles, and medicine wrappers, to create every component of the house – from the walls to the ceiling.

Spanning 625 sq ft, the house has successfully diverted 13 tonnes of plastic waste from landfills.

One of the standout features of this plastic house is its portability. Dr Paliwal notes that it can be dismantled and reassembled in just two to five hours.

Unlike traditional cement structures, it does not require water for construction and is free from cracks, ensuring durability without the need for regular maintenance.

The total cost of constructing the plastic house was Rs 9 lakh. This cost, Dr Paliwal shares, is about 20 percent less than that of conventional cement houses, making it an economically viable alternative.

Dr Paliwal envisions this plastic house as a model for future housing schemes under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

“By constructing such homes, tonnes of plastic waste from villages and cities can be utilised. You protect the environment, use less natural resources, reduce plastic waste, and generate employment,” he shares.