What makes the 10 Ton Project so Unique and innovative?
IT IS A SCALABLE, LOCALIZED SOLUTION TO OUR GLOBAL PLASTIC CRISIS.
Our solution does not require any changes to the current recycling infrastructure, in fact, it will make the process more simple which will save a substantial amount of time and resources and make plastic collection much easier.
With our solution, plastic does not have to be separated by type. A major bottleneck in the recycling process is to separate plastics by their recycling groups, such as #1 PET bottles and #2 HDPE bottles. All plastics have different melting temperatures for repurposing, so classification is very important.
The current methods for repurposing plastic into new forms like bricks and blocks require expensive equipment and use a lot of energy. By utilizing earth bag design and building principles, we are able to use the plastic once it has been ground into pellets. This means all of the plastics can be mixed and cut up together, eliminating the most laborious part of collection.
The shredding equipment required for recycling plastic is in every country on earth. Our chosen method of building also does not require any heavy equipment, can be built by unskilled labor, and scaled back versions can be built for much cheaper.
EVERY DONOR WILL RECEIVE THE COMPREHENSIVE INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO ON HOW TO BUILD A PLASTIC HOUSE.
This project will immediately alleviate plastic pollution problems wherever it is implemented. And let's be honest, our entire Earth is covered in plastic garbage. So if you want to get involved, please reach out to us.
"When the solution is simple, GOD is answering."
-Albert Einstein
ABOUT ME
My name is Brian Sherwin and I am from the USA. I currently reside in Panama. I have been very fortunate to travel to 26 countries; I have volunteered in Peru, Vietnam, Thailand, Panama, and the United States with orphanages, hospitals, and animal protection groups. I'm an ocean and nature lover. I am an avid free diver and bodysurfer. And in my travels I have noticed everywhere on earth has one thing in common: they're covered in plastic trash. My diving excursions turned into plastic clean up sessions. It made me happy to help, but depressed at the state of our planet. Seeing the true state of our planet left me feeling lost, I wanted to do something, but I didn't know where to start. And finally I just let it all go and asked myself, what can I do to make a difference in this world? So I spent years learning, researching, and figuring out how i could help. I wanted to make the biggest impact I could because the volume of plastic pollution is of epic proportions. And that's why I'm launching THE TEN TON PROJECT, to help clean up the mess we are making and bring purpose into my life. I hope you join me on this journey!
MY EXPERIENCE
I have seven years of experience in construction/excavation and a University certification in Construction Project Management. I have spent years studying alternative home building methods, permaculture, biophilic design, and other disciplines to refine my building technique.
I have a B.S. in Marketing from Radford University in Virginia. I have five years experience working in real estate and finance in Virginia and Hawaii.
MY GOAL FOR THE 10 TON PROJECT
If we can find the same level of success as 4Ocean, we can prevent 40 million pounds of plastic from entering our ecosystems and build 2000 homes!!!! So why stop there, the sky is the limit!
What We Need & What You Get
Our initial goal is to sell 4000 keychains.
This will prevent 20,000 pounds of plastic from entering our ecosystems.
This will fund our prototype plastic house, which will cost around $30,000 to build.
For every 4000 products sold, one house will be built with 10 tons of plastic each.
We have to pay 5% to Indiegogo. We have to pay for and produce the recycled keychains and cover worldwide shipping.
Here is a rough breakdown of the construction costs for the plastic house:
Labor: $8,000
Recycled Plastic Pellets: $2,800
Tools: $1,000
Rental Equipment: $1,000
Wood framing/Roof: $4,000
Permits/Legal: $2,500
Septic System: $3,000
Electrical/Plumbing: $2,500
Finishings: $2,000
PP Bags: $1,000
10% overage protection
Total: $30,580
If we don't reach our entire goal with this Indiegogo campaign, we will continue to sell our production other sites until we reach our minimum goal of 4000 recycled keychains sold
Risks & Challenges
Building a home with plastic pellets, to my knowledge, has never been done. And that's where years of planning comes in. My design choice will use proven methods of construction techniques to make this home last for potentially hundreds or thousands of years if it's taken care of properly.
The bags will be reinforced with rebar every 3 levels, and staggered every 2 feet. We will also pour a concrete bond beam on top of the walls to increase durability in our earthquake prone area.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you can't contribute, please help share the project. Our earth desperately needs answers now to this global plastic crisis.