This is a good post because YES we all should take a look at how we waste stuff and abuse the evironment.
===== Before I get beat up for working in the
Oil Industry, I REALY DO try to do my part in this area to the extent that I can. Honestly! And I don't always
work int the
oil industry.
=====
Recycling in general provides a unique opportunity for amananufacturer from a standpoint that in general people are receptive and want to do the right thing. People will gladly spend some
money to give you something to recycle. I'll dirive here and there, or sort my stuff, to donate recycling materials,
The biggest problem is what do we make of it, it's free material.
The biggest issue is COLOR and STRUCTURAL PROPERTIES. That being said, particular to plastics; what would consumers buy that had no STRUCTURAL constraints, and they didn't care what COLOR it was.
Some materials such as
Aluminum and
Steel are readily recyclable and you actually get paid to bring them in.
When you recycle most products it turns into a mismash of structural properties, impurities, and like mixing 10 different colors of
paint. What do you make? It's
cheap, but what is it that you can sell or give away?
Being non structural, it could be filler material in non structural concrete,
core material, etc? It's the same problem with old tires (tyres for some)
Not that I have the answers, but we all need to think of things that can utilize these
cheap left over and discgarded materials that don't redily biodegrade, and don't make gas for future generations.
I've done a few
project which we've been able to utilize recycled material but its not as many as I'd like.
I'm pretty proud to have been an
engineer getting this
project qualified to FAA standards. runwaysafe.com Recycled glass as an aircraft arrestor
bed material. Look down the next time you fly into Chicago.
I'll give this idea up to whoever wants to run with it. Make a Lego like product that utilizes recycled plastic. It's the holy grail I'm telling you:
Kids don't care about color, and you can never have too much lego!