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When the price of cement shoots up and sand supply becomes less, products made out of these become pricey. Building a house and arranging basic amenities can become a nightmare for ordinary people with modest budgets.

But when the construction of your house is completed and when you want to give the final touch to your floor, think of this man if you want to explore a cheap option.

This young man from Kodungallur, in Thrissur district, has devised a way of making floor tiles from plastic waste.

If you think that is not a viable option, ask this innovator about it. Seeing plastic waste dumped on roads and other places has been a constant source of worry for K.B. Joy, of Sun Tech Company and an advocate of solid-waste recycling.

“I think this plastic dumping is a big problem. I have been gravely concerned about it. I am happy that I could do something to solve the problem,” he says.

INNOVATIVE: Turning plastic waste into tiles.

After many experiments, he has come out with the novel idea of making cheaper floor tiles using plastic waste. He collects plastic waste from all sources. The process is a simple one. First, he powders the plastic waste, by putting it in the machine.

Then, it is mixed with liquid asphalt and heated. Baby metal is added and the compound is poured into moulds and the tiles cast in the shape of these moulds. Red oxide is painted on the tile to add to its beauty. The production cost of 1 sq. ft. tile is only Rs. 12, whereas cement tiles cost Rs. 30 a sq. ft.

The time required for processing the plastic into tiles is much less than what cement ones take. The weight is also less, making them easy to handle. The plastic tile is recyclable. For changing the shape of the tile, just heat it and transform it into the desired shape.

The Edavilangu grama panchayat is already implementing Joy’s ideas and has supplied bags to houses to collect plastic waste. P.B. Kochu Moideen, Edavilangu panchayat president, says, “Joy has come out with the technology of making floor tiles from plastic waste.

Using the technology we have started a unit here. We collect the plastic waste from houses.”

Joy’s plastic mix can be used for tarring roads and it lasts five years, he says. Joy is also good with size-reduction technology and waste water recycling.

So, the next time when you throw away your plastic waste or dump it somewhere, which, in turn, can lead to many a health hazard, think for a minute. It can be put to better use. What about making floor tiles with it?

KUNDUR SATHYA NARYANAN

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