Paper houses

According to the EPA, we Americans throw away enough paper each year to build a 48' high wall surrounding the country. That's taller and longer the Great Wall of China.

In Plenty magazine (Dec2005 /Jan 2006, p.88), Joshua M. Bernstein reports that paper makes a great ingredient in building materials. "Papercrete" follows a simple recipe: add water, clay, cement or clay to a pile of old newspaper or phone books and stir until porridge smooth; pour into molds; and let air dry. The resulting blocks are lightweight, fire-resistant, and Superman strong. The idea isn't new. It's been around since the 1920's, but back then paper was cost a lot more than today. To date, approximately 50 papercrete structures have been built, mostly in the Southwest , where hot, dry weather prevails.

Papercrete's drawback: it absorbs water. But with a stucco coat on a raised foundation, papercrete is a likely building alternative.