Today I Learned: Filipino Scientists Built a House With Radiation-Processed Plastic

As the world continues to drown in plastic, the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) has unveiled a new solution to the country’s plastic problem, particularly the sachets and low-value plastics that usually have no life after the trash bin. 

Pictured above is a first-of-its-kind prototype house built with radiation-processed plastic tiles and panels. 

Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. said it’s a concrete example of the country’s progress in leveraging nuclear science and radiation technology as an “innovative yet realistic solution for reprocessing plastic wastes.” 

The project is part of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) NUTEC Plastics initiative, which helps nations use nuclear technology to track, reduce, and repurpose plastic waste. The Philippines is one of only nine pilot countries leading its plastics-upcycling component. 

At the center of the breakthrough is a process called Post-Radiation Reactive Extrusion (PREx). In simple terms: researchers blast discarded plastics with radiation, which reorganizes their molecular structure and strengthens their bonds. The waste can then be heated, reshaped, and turned into solid construction materials—tiles, bricks, and panels—that don’t crumble under pressure. 

“If you did not apply the radiation, the product, even if you heat it, will not be very sustainable,” DOST-PNRI Director Carlo A. Arcilla explained.  

Arcilla added that radiation-induced processing can only be done using an electron beam or gamma radiation. But he clarified that the radiation does not make the plastics radioactive, making the technology safe for handling and everyday use. 

For Solidum, the technology isn’t just scientific progress—it’s a shift in mindset. “One of the things that we need to change is when people see plastic, they don't see plastic, but they see money. If you think that what you see is money, you won’t throw it away. So essentially what we're trying to do now is really combine science, technology, innovation, and business,” Solidum said. 

The prototype house, also called the PREx house, showcased at the DOST-PNRI compound, was a highlight during IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi’s visit to Manila on November 26. His trip coincided with the inaugural International High-Level Forum on NUTEC Plastics, held at Conrad Manila, which gathered global leaders, scientists, regulators, and industry players for discussions on the future of waste. 

As the world scrambles for scalable ways to confront plastic pollution, the PREx model house hints at a future where discarded plastics don’t choke oceans—they hold up our walls. 

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