BA Bournemouth University

Roof tiles from multi-layered plastics

Some of the most difficult materials to biodegrade or recycle are MLPs (multi-layered plastics), such as toothpaste tubes, because they have an aluminium layer. Angela found existing recycling methods ineffective, so she invented her own. She shredded the plastic and placed it inside a heat press. After three tests, she obtained a new, shiny and heat-reflective material “with a beautiful aesthetic”.  She has used this for her award-winning Wastly heat-resistant roof tiles, stable and easy to fix, which can reduce indoor temperatures and humidity in homes in poorer communities. Angela modelled her project on Chennai (formerly Madras), a large hot and humid city in Southern India. Here families are already collecting and selling waste from dumpsites, but this brings in little money. Angela suggests that collected plastic could be made into tiles locally, and sold for a substantially better income. At the same time, previously unrecyclable waste would be diverted from landfill. This “business model,” based on sustainability and the circular economy, could be copied worldwide.