Underwater Skyscrapers Recycle Waste From Great Pacific Garbage Patch

We know that the plastic waste in our oceans is heinous. The <a href="http://inhabitat.com/great-pacific-garbage-patch-is-worse-than-we-thought/">Great Pacific Garbage Patch</a> is a monstrosity and we're even finding signs of toxic plastic remnants even in the most pristine places, like in southern Chile, where our <a href="http://inhabitat.com/inhabitats-brit-liggett-reports-from-the-south-sea-on-the-search-for-plastic-pollution/">own Brit Ligget is sailing in search of pollution</a>. First of course we need to stop polluting our waters, and secondly, we need a way to clean up our ugly mess. As part of the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/evolo">eVolo Skyscraper competition</a>, Milorad Vidojević, Jelena Pucarević and Milica Pihler of Serbia have proposed a <a href="http://www.evolo.us/competition/lady-landfill-skyscraper/">giant underwater skyscraper</a> that would collect and recycle the waste into a source of energy.

The underwater skyscraper was inspired by the Eiffel Tower and flipped upside down in the water.

The lower portion of the tower collects and stores plastic waste until it can be recycled in the middle section of the tower.

Above the recycling facilities are office space and then residential that sticks out above the water.

Ballasts take in or release water to control the buoyancy of the tower depending on how much waste has been collected.

Meanwhile the recycled trash is processed to create fuel for use to run the facility.

The waste will be heated in the recycling chamber and converted into a gas that will be stored in massive battery like structures.

A large void in the center adjusts the mass of the skyscraper by taking in or releasing water.

The programs are organized vertically with residential at the top, then office space, then the recycling facility and finally waste collection area.

Lady Landfill Skyscraper took home an honorable mention in the 2011 architectural competition.

We love the combination of recycling and futuristic architecture all located under the sea.

We're especially fond of the lush vegetation draping off the part that sticks out of the water, like they were moss covered icebergs.