An idea about how to reuse plastic is using plastic bottle to make solar lights.
How does it work?
This technique was invented in 2002 by the Brazilian mechanic Alfred Moser. These lights consist of a plastic bottle, water and bleach to stop algae from growing in the bottle. They are currently being used in some areas in the developing world as they are cheaper than a typical electrical bulb. Apart from this, they are also incredibly efficient and prevent darkness in homes that would not otherwise be able to get sufficient sunlight while reusing plastic bottles, thus keeping them from littering our homes. We call this a win- win situation. It works because the water refracts the sunshine allowing the bottle to glow brightly, shown in the picture on the left. Around half a million of these lights have been installed in a dozen different countries however we know that it is not enough. We want to raise awareness about this brilliantly efficient idea and have streetlights in the most populated refugee camps and light in refugee houses in the near future.
Effects on refugees
If we were to use this technique to make lights for inside temporary refugee houses (see houses for refugees) and street lights, we can help to create a sense of community among the refugees. According to psychology, natural light and brightness in general makes people happier by decreasing depression and even increasing cognitive performance such as reaction time and activation. We feel that these solar lights can have good effects on the mental health of refugees which is an issue that is not commonly looked at.
Conclusion
This idea can be used to provide light for refugees and reuse plastic. This is a picture of how it works.