Taiwan turns plastic bottles into expo pavilion

Taiwan is turning 1.5 million recycled plastic bottles into a nine-storey exhibition hall for an international show on the island.

The 300 million Taiwan dollar (nine million US dollar) construction is the world's first large-scale building made from recycled bottles and can resist earthquakes, according to its sponsor.

The pavilion is to host fashion and environmental protection shows at the Taipei International Floral Exposition in November.

"The bottles are processed to make bricks that can resist earthquakes and powerful winds to build the world's first exhibition hall of its kind," said Rachel Chen, from the Far Eastern Group, which is sponsoring the pavilion.

Work on the building is due to be completed by the end of the month, the group said.

Taiwan is keen to promote green technology and architecture as it seeks to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.