Patrick Simpson of Anchorage wants to try and solve the astronomical costs of lumber and building materials when shipped to his home state of Alaska. His goal: he wants to create artificial lumber from plastic ocean debris. 

Simpson, an engineer and entrepreneur, has been granted $100,000 by the EPA to develop his idea of a mobile plastic-waste recycler that could be deployed to coastal communities in Alaska and produce building materials. His current plan is to find material collected in community beach cleanups and intercept it before it goes to landfills.  

This lumber won’t be suitable for framing a house because it bends, but it could be made into decking, fencing or roof tiles. 

Read the complete story here.