Recycling the Unrecyclable
It is nearly impossible to talk about materials today without invoking a full-fledged powwow about life cycle analysis, carbon footprints, and potential upcycling. Especially in the building industry, where many materials cannot be recycled using conventional means, product life is often prematurely shortened -- due to a lack of connection between material source and knowledge of where it could be used in the world. Enter SocialCycling, a new program that aims to facilitate exactly this.
SocialCycling, a new program launched by DMD Green earlier this month, seeks to divert unwanted, difficult-to-recycle materials from landfills and facilitates their use into new, second-life products. For instance, take vinyl-coated fabrics -- a very difficult-to-recycle material. SocialCycling would collect and sort it at their site, and after going through a network of recyclers, converters and community groups, could deliver it to workrooms in a developing country to be turned into backpacks for school children.
I corresponded with Jason Warnock, managing partner of DMD Green, and was very curious as to how SocialCycling would be more catered to the large-scale needs of the architecture industry than current product upcycling programs (for example, TerraCycle). He responded:
"Our goal with the A&D community is to integrate SocialCycling from both the top down and bottom up strategy simultaneously. Architectural product manufacturers will be able to include information into their specifications about how their material may be SocialCycled at the end of its lifecycle; this in turn could be included in the construction documents and turned over the the building owner or lease holder. Conversely from the top down, major renovations, demos, etc would include a SocialCycling material audit to develop a strategy to convert, recycle, or re-use all the materials in the most efficient manner possible."
Social use for waste materials? Always a bright concept. I'm eager to see SocialCycling make many more future matches between discarded building materials and specific communities in need.
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Great article. Thanks so much, Tiffany for posting!
Great story, Tiffany. It's an intriguing concept when you think of how it could be applied on a massive, global scale. Endless opportunities.
It's intriguing when you think of all of the opportunities on a global scale.
This is one of the most challenging projects and one that has incredible significance to our planet. Has anyone thought about how to get rid of the great trash heap in the middle of the Pacific Ocean by recycling it somehow?
This is a very cool blog post and useful for large scale recycling. I think we can also think about our own waste materials -- instead of throwing away that old coffee maker, or whatever, offer it for free on Craigslist. Someone will likely have a use for it.
Icon construction chemicals are a Manufacturers and Suppliers of Construction Chemicals and Water Proofing contractors in Bangalore India.
Hey I really like this site. You might enjoy this video of what we are doing out in California - if you like it please spread the word. Email me if you have any questions. Enjoy! http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=US#/watch?client=mv-google&v=WRPYccEXt-8
This is a fantastic way to help keep items out of our landfills. We try and recycle by providing people with items that other people do not want or need. We here at Pollution Free America Inc. also particip[ate in e-cycling and have had tremendous response from our community in regards to donating used electronics, computers and old cell phones. We are currently undertaking the initiation of an annual raffle to benefit our operations. We are primarily concerned with the education of todays youth about the attributes of returning,reusing,reducing and recycling. We are currently running a fundraiser to help distribute 100,000 educational packs to elementary aged school aged children, in an attempt to educate them about the positive affects of recycling. We are holding our first annual Spectacu – Raffle where we will give away over 100 prizes. Donated by some of our better known business entities in NE Florida. The prozes consist of golf memberships, hotel stays, dinners, tours and more. Tickets for the raffle can be bought for $5.00 each or 5 for $20.00 at your local VFW, Foreign Legion, Moose and Elks clubs or by visiting Pollution Free America Inc. Online at http://www.pollutionfreeamerica.org Pollution Free America Inc. will hold the raffle at the Saint Augustine Foreign Legion Post # 37 at 9pm October 29th 2010. Winners need not be present. For more info you can also call Pollution Free America Inc. at 904-819-0496
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