Joysxee is a Real Eco-Paradise Island That Floats Atop Garbage!

Rishi Sowa has been living on a pile of garbage for over ten years. His <a href="https://inhabitat.com/brilliant-floating-hotel-allows-guests-to-explore-the-adriatic-sea-in-luxury/" target="_blank">new island</a>, Joysxee, in the Isla Mujeres, Mexico is a floating paradise supported by thousands of plastic bottles! A marvel made from <a href="https://inhabitat.com/green-with-envy-an-incredible-dress-made-of-thousands-of-upcycled-bottles/" target="_blank">plastic bottles</a>, discarded wood and planted vegetation, Sowa, with help from Scott Mader, hopes to expand his eco-paradise home, to also travel around on it and to have it be an example for other garbage islands.

Not far from Cancun, Sowa began constructing his first<a href="https://inhabitat.com/green-power-island-could-power-copenhagen-sustainably/" target="_blank"> island</a> in 1998. Collecting empty plastic bottles, plywood and bamboo <a href="https://inhabitat.com/washed-ashore-sculptures-of-marine-life-made-from-the-debris-that-endangers-them/" target="_blank">he’d find on the beach</a>, he built up the island to included a two story house and three beaches, with sand from a build up near the shore that was otherwise dredged to let boats through.

To keep the island cool, Sowa planted mangroves and other vegetation, which provided shade from heights up to 15 feet. His kitchen was equipped with a solar oven, and his bathroom included a self-composting toilet.

Sadly, <a href="https://inhabitat.com/tornado-resistent-meadowlark-home-breaks-ground-in-greensburg-kansas/" target="_blank">Hurricane</a> Emily of 2005 swept his island away, turning his eco-home into rubble. Undeterred, he began building the next island, the current Joysxee. The new island is 25 meters in diameter, and floats atop bags of over 125,000 plastic bottles- all which Sowa has found in the trash.

The new island improves its eco-qualities, with <a href="https://inhabitat.com/deserted-uk-tin-mine-transformed-into-1-4mw-solar-power-plant/" target="_blank">solar panels</a>, which partly power a waterfall and river! A wave powered washing machine keeps his clothes clean and fresh, and three in-island ponds and mangroves help keep the island cool.

Gilligan’s Island comes to mind- as Sowa has a conch <a href="https://inhabitat.com/tung-chung-swimming-pool-follows-aerodynamic-shell-form-and-climatic-responsive-design/" target="_blank">shell</a> intercom system! An on-island mini farm provides palm trees, sea grapes, mangroves, cactus, spinach, tomatoes, melons, lemons, herbs and flowering shrubs.

Through an ambitious <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/scottmader/grand-launch-of-recycled-plastic-bottle-eco-art-is" target="_blank">Kickstarter </a>campaign, Sowa hopes to expand the <a href="https://inhabitat.com/treehouse-party-help-artist-benjamin-jones-paint-his-treehouse-this-weekend-in-nyc/" target="_blank">island</a>, and launch it out into the lagoon. Further, Sowa hopes to sail Joysxee around the world, and teach visitors that trash can be treasure- and even become paradise. <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/scottmader/grand-launch-of-recycled-plastic-bottle-eco-art-is" target="_blank">+ Support Joysxee on Kickstarter</a>