Matimba Mabonda, a master’s student at the University of Cape Town, has completed a three-bedroom house constructed mainly from natural soil mixed with recycled plastic and glass, a pilot project that points to cheaper, greener housing options for struggling families.
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Mabonda led the build in Ennerdale and says the technique can lower wall costs by up to 40% compared with conventional brickwork, while diverting waste from landfill. Watch Newzroom Afrika’s interview with Mabonda below:
UCT chemical engineering Master’s student, Matimba Mabonda, has developed a sustainable, low-cost three-bedroom home using natural soil with recycled plastic and glass. He says this method saves up to 40% compared with the cost of traditional brick walls.
Watch:… pic.twitter.com/1Cl8enCSma
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‘More than 90% of our walls were made from earth materials, as well as plastic waste,’ Mabonda said, adding that the house stays warm in winter and cool in summer without heavy air conditioning.
Completed in under a month, the home includes living areas, a kitchen, bathroom and garage.
Mabonda’s venture, LolaGreen, aims to scale the method, pursue certification and decarbonise construction by turning local plastic and glass waste into stabilised earth building material.
Experts note that reusing waste in stabilised earth mixtures can cut embodied emissions and help address South Africa’s annual 122-million-tonne solid waste challenge.
The pilot now seeks regulatory approval and investment to move from demonstration to wider rollout.
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