Calls to
reduce plastic waste have been steadily growing over the past decade or so, and
nowadays there are many people making a conscious effort to reduce their output
of waste and recycle as much as possible. While plastic is arguably the
material that has the biggest negative impact on our planet, recycling all
materials such as plastic, glass and paper, can help reduce the amounts sent to
landfill and help us all do our bit for the planet.
Thankfully,
with the latest technological innovations, recycling is becoming easier and
more creative than ever, with a whole host of exciting projects entering the
market; from edible cutlery, to roads and homes built from recycled plastic. If
you’re looking to know more about why recycling is so important, and learn
about the latest recycling methods changing our world, read on for our handy
guide.
Why is recycling so important?
Recycling is
one of the most effective and important ways to protect the environment and the
people living in it. Waste has a very negative impact on our natural
environment, in part due to the pollution and harmful chemicals and greenhouse
gasses that are released as rubbish disintegrates in landfill sites.
Failure to
recycle also means that more raw materials are needed to make new products, and
this can lead to global warming and the destruction of habitats from processes
such as deforestation. Making new products from scratch also uses a huge amount
of energy, but recycling helps to preserve these natural resources, and
drastically cuts down on the amount of energy required.
As well as
being good for the environment, recycling also benefits the population,
especially in busy, crowded cities where space for waste is rapidly running
out. Landfill sites are running out of space - and fast - but recycling
effectively reduces the amount of waste being sent to landfill tips. It also
saves money; both on energy bills and on obtaining the natural resources needed
to make products from scratch.
The latest recycling innovations
Now that
we’ve touched upon just a few reasons why recycling is so important, it’s
encouraging to learn that new methods and techniques are being developed
constantly. From building methods to exciting new products made from recycled
materials, we will explore just a few of the latest recycling innovations
below.
Roads made from recycled plastic and glass
Non-recyclable
plastic is now being used to create roads in housing developments; Scotland led
the way in the UK, but it’s a method that’s also been used in Australia, and
now the English city of Bristol has followed suit. Non-recyclable products like
plastic bags are collected and then processed to create asphalt, using a
technology invented by Scottish innovator MacRebur. This process saves the
equivalent of around 150,000 single use plastic bags from being sent to
landfill, and it also stops a potential 1.6 tonnes of carbon from polluting the
atmosphere.
A road a few
miles north of Melbourne, Australia has also been paved with the equivalent of
200,000 plastic bags, 63,000 glass bottles and 4,500 empty printer cartridges.
Household waste into electricity
Waste to
energy plants are already prevalent in countries like Sweden and China, and
they work by incinerating household waste scraps and converting that energy
into electricity. This method reduces the consumption of fossil fuels and the
greenhouse gasses emitted from decomposing landfills, however some critics
claim that the plants pollute the surrounding air and waterways.
Edible cutlery
As far as we
know it’s yet to reach the UK, but several companies such as the India-based
Edible Pro have developed cutlery that is biodegradable, plastic free, zero
waste, and yes - edible. Edible Pro’s products are made using a mix of millet,
rice and wheat grains, and they offer bowls and spoons in various sizes.
If you’re
looking for something sweeter, then the US company Candy Cutlery has developed
a range of spoons and mini cups made entirely from natural cane sugars, with
flavours including strawberry and coffee.
Waste plastic homes
The
Columbian social enterprise Conceptos Plasticos created a way to produce
stackable bricks made entirely from recycled waste plastic and rubber, which
are then used to build durable, affordable housing for those in need.
The idea has
since spread to locations such as the Ivory Coast, where women in the city
collect plastic which is then used for building bricks for homes and schools.
Recycled plastic bricks are yet to reach the UK as a building material, but who
knows that the future holds, and it’s certainly an innovative way to ensure
plastic isn’t left to pollute our oceans and landscapes.
Recycled aggregate stone
Recycled aggregates
is a term that describes crushed
cement concrete, asphalt or any other type of crushed stone debris left over
from construction projects, that can then be collected and used again as a
building material. Aggregates are not a new innovation, but more and more
businesses and industries are becoming aware of how versatile and useful
recycled aggregates are.
Using
recycled aggregates saves money, and it also conserves the energy required to
mine new aggregates from scratch, as some quarry mining methods can cause
damage to the surrounding environment. They also have many varied uses,
including as a bulk filler, a material in road construction, bank protection,
and as a base or fill for drainage structures.
No-energy air conditioning
Traditional
air conditioning systems can use up a lot of energy, but it’s actually possible
to make an effective simplified version using just recycled plastic bottles and
perforated board. It’s ideal for houses not on the electricity grid, and is
used widely in Bangladesh. A natural cooling effect is created as warm air
enters the large opening of the bottle, and leaves the building via the thinner
neck.
It’s a
simple idea that hasn’t really changed since its first inception, and it can be
used anywhere it’s needed!
Printing with waste plastic
3D printing
is one of the most innovative inventions in recent years, and it’s been used to
create everything from prosthetic limbs to musical instruments. The only issue
is that it tends to use a lot of plastic, so naturally a sensible solution
would be to use waste plastic instead. Several projects have been turning waste
plastic bottles, cups and other items into useful objects like furniture, by reusing
waste plastic in the 3D printing process.
Recycled fuel
Turning
waste plastic into fuel has been a hot topic over the past few years, and
techniques have been developed that can turn waste polypropylene plastic into
useful fuels and other products. The oil produced has similar properties to
gasoline, and it would save the need to mine more fossil fuels like oil for
petrol.
Packaging from food waste
This
involves making a compostable material from renewable materials, agricultural
by-products and food waste, which can then be used to package everything from
cereal bars, crisps or detergent. This waste can be used to make a form of
natural ‘plastic’ which is fully biodegradable, unlike traditional oil-based
plastics.
There are
plenty of fantastic techniques being developed when it comes to recycling
methods, and if you work in the building or construction industry and would
like to use more eco-friendly materials, get in touch with William Thompson
& Son. We offer high quality recycled aggregates in Dunbarton, Glasgow and
Lanarkshire, and green construction and sustainability are two issues at the
top of our agenda. We’re committed to helping the construction industry be more
green, so if you want to know more about our recycled aggregates or responsible
landfill and waste disposal services, give us a call today or find out more on our website.
