A trash compactor has been developed that turns trash into bricks. It is a self-contained and self-powered (if necessary) unit where;
“Trash is collected locally, then washed, shredded, melted, and molded through an automated process.” – Treehugger
Doing so at conventional landfills and dumps or in densely populated areas would be a significant enough achievement; but this unit is developed to work in remote locations. Remote locations have two problems that can be eased, getting rid of trash and acquiring building materials. This technology takes things that may already last long, and turns that from a disposal problem into a local benefit.
(Disclosure: I suggested something similar for a vessel that would harvest plastic from the ocean. Hence, my enthusiasm for yet one more hurdle being cleared, regardless of the status of my project. See Sea Stack Plastic Harvester for details.)
Pretending Not To Panic 