The Day I Decided to Turn Trash Into Hope

The following guest post was submitted by Bill Wiggin, co-founder of the Earth Friendly Project

I never thought I'd be the guy obsessed with plastic bottles. But here I am, at 70, staring at mountains of recycling and seeing something nobody else sees: freedom. And I'm asking people to help me revolutionize home accessibility — one plastic bottle at a time.

When Independence Hangs by a Thread
Three years ago, my world started shrinking. Not all at once — instead, it happened one step at a time. Literally. Those three steps leading to my front door went from being nothing to being everything. The difference between independence and isolation.

I started making the calls we all make. Aging services, contractors, churches. The answers were always the same: "It's expensive." "There's a waiting list." "Have you considered moving?"

Moving? I'd already done that after losing my wife. I wasn't about to let a few stairs chase me from my home again.

The Lightbulb Moment
That's when the numbers hit me: 25 million Americans face mobility challenges. Meanwhile, we're drowning in 42 million tons of plastic waste that mostly ends up in landfills.

I kept thinking: What if the solution to both problems was sitting in my recycling bin?

Building More Than Ramps
Working with brilliant minds at UConn — Dr. Edith Barrett and Dr. Jorge Paricio — we've done the seemingly impossible: we created a modular, durable, ADA‑compliant ramp made almost entirely from recycled plastic bottles – there’s a little recycled aluminum – modular pieces that snap and screw together like building blocks. No contractors needed. No fortune required.

Each ramp saves 200 pounds of plastic from landfills while giving someone their independence back. The engineering students testing our prototypes joke that I hover over every detail. They're right. Because I know what it feels like to stare at stairs that might as well be mountains.

How You Can Help!
Here's the thing: I can't do this alone. And I shouldn't have to.

Every day, someone like you or someone you love faces the choice between safety and independence. And every day, we throw away materials that could solve that problem. It's maddening. It's heartbreaking. And it's fixable.

We want to hear from you. Not as a statistic, but as a person. What barriers have you faced? Your story — your five minutes — could be the key that unlocks this solution for millions.

Your Voice, Our Future
I'm not asking you to buy anything or donate money. I'm asking you to share your experience. Because here's what I've learned: the most powerful force in the world isn't technology or money. It's people who refuse to accept that things can't be better.

Let's prove that together. Please visit earthfriendlyproject.org and take our survey. It's quick, it's anonymous, and it matters more than you know.

Note: This research is being conducted by the Earth Friendly Project  (“Institution”) and is not an AARP research study. If you participate, any information you provide during the study is governed by (as applicable) Institution’s policies, informed consent form and/or other notices to you. AARP’s efforts to promote awareness do not constitute an endorsement or agreement with the contents, methodology, or findings. If you are interested in participating in the study, you are encouraged to review the study details independently, seek any clarification needed directly from Institution and make your own informed decisions.

Bill Wiggin is co-founder of the Earth Friendly Project. You can reach him at bill.wiggin@earthfriendlyproject.org or visit earthfriendlyproject.org to learn more and take the survey.