‘Show me your trash and I will show you cash’- Calvin Hector using solid waste to build, furnish homes

DPI Guyana, October 20, 2018

Former University of Guyana lecturer and Senior Consultant of Plan Maintenance and Equipment Systems, Calvin Hector is on a mission to tackle the issue of solid waste in Guyana.

Hector collects and process materials that would otherwise be discarded as trash and turns them into new products. One of his ‘environmentally friendly’ initiatives uses plastic bottles filled with silica sand to replace cement blocks in the construction of houses.

“It is off the internet, it’s not something I designed, but I believe that I can meaningfully implement it in Guyana,” Hector explained.

This method is proven to be 20 times stronger than any concrete built house and costs half the price one would pay to build a house, Hector further explained.  “You can use any size of bottle of your choice, but you have to ensure that each row has the same size of bottle,” Hector told the Department of Public Information (DPI).

Hector along with his wife, Jan Hector is one of the many entrepreneurs utilising the Green Guyana Exposition at the National Stadium, Providence to showcase their products and services.

Calvin Hector explaining his products to patrons

Calvin Hector and his wife, Jan Hector showing some of the fence spares, decorative signs and letters manufactured using waste cans

The picnic furniture made using wood pallets

Former University of Guyana Lecturer and Senior Consultant of Plan Maintenance and Equipment Systems, Calvin Hector

Among his other initiatives is the use of Styrofoam protective sheets – that are used when packaging refrigerators and other large appliances – as a replacement for cement blocks when building.

Hector also recycles the aluminium cans that he melts and manufactures fence spares, decorative signs and letters. The sign on Food for the Poor Guyana Incorporated building was created by Hector using this method.

Additionally, he converts wood pallets into foldable picnic furniture. The furniture is user-friendly and easy to carry around in one’s vehicle.

Hector noted, “we utilise four elements of solid waste and make it meaningful. Solid waste is a big issue in Guyana. In all the trenches you can find bottles and cans, so since I have retired this is my hobby and I’m hoping that the Guyanese people can be able to grasp it.’

Hector said  he is delighted to have been afforded the opportunity to showcase his products at the Green Expo.

Synieka Thorne

Images: Jameel Mohamed