He Built a School Out of Garbage — and It’s Changing Lives

Conscious Design Podcast™

He literally built schools from trash, and it works. 👀Meet Matt Paneitz, founder of Long Way Home, who turned 550 tons of waste and 35,000 used tires into sustainable classrooms in rural Guatemala. Discover how his team built the Hero School, where sustainability, community, and education collide, proving that you can build schools from trash that last for generations.

If you believe in green innovation, conscious design, the circular economy, and education for change, this episode will move you. 💚

⏩ Jump to your favorite parts

00:28 - Welcome to the Conscious Design Podcast

00:39 - Meet Matt Paneitz: Turning Trash into Schools

01:00 - The Origin Story: From Peace Corps to Trash Schools

01:38 - Building with Trash: The First Steps

03:33 - Challenges and Innovations in Sustainable Construction

06:20 - Creating a Sustainable Campus

12:49 - Durability and Resilience of Trash Buildings

24:07 - Integrating Sustainability into Education

30:53 - Future Plans and Community Impact

32:14 - How to Get Involved and Final Thoughts

About Matt Paneitz & Long Way Home

In 2002, Peace Corps volunteer Matthew Paneitz arrived in San Juan Comalapa, Guatemala. By 2004, he founded Long Way Home (LWH) to fight poverty through sustainable construction and education.

From 2008 to 2025, his team turned trash into classrooms, building the award-winning Hero School Green Campus, a replicable model for eco education. Matt earned degrees in Sustainability and Education and is now pursuing his Doctorate at Antioch University.

🌐 Learn more: https://lwhome.org | https://lwhomegreen.org

🔗 Connect with Matt Paneitz & Long Way Home

Website: https://lwhome.org/

Website (Long Way Home Green): lwhomegreen.org

LinkedIn (Long Way Home): https://www.linkedin.com/company/lwhome/

LinkedIn (Matt Paneitz): https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-paneitz/

Instagram (Long Way Home): https://www.instagram.com/lwhome_org/

Instagram (Matt Paneitz): https://www.instagram.com/mattlwhome/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lwhomeorg

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LongWayHomeOrg

Get the “Conscious Design” book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KNMN9BT

Learn more: https://www.consciousdesignhaus.com/

Want to turn visionary ideas into market-ready, sustainable products? 👉 https://www.petermanfirm.com/

🤝 Let’s Connect

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cdesignhaus/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@consciousdesign

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/conscious-designhaus/

X (Twitter): https://x.com/CDesignHaus

💬 Question for you: Would you live or study in a school made from trash? Tell us below!