Today on the blog we’re having a look at some of the unusual products that industry now recycles and what the recycled material can be used for.
Firstly, plastics, there can’t be any one of us who now does not know and understand how hazardous they can be for our planet, but they’re used in so many ways throughout industry and the world in general that they are going to be with us for a long time to come.
But, it’s not all bad news, some innovative companies have found a way to recycle certain plastics so that they can be used to make fleeces, puffer jackets, stuffing for sleeping bags, cushions, and pet beds. Innovative thinkers are continually looking for new ways to recycle this most difficult of materials.
Secondly, paper, one of the most recycled materials is now being used in innovative ways to insulate houses. Other materials being considered are wool and cotton, with denim fabric being a favourite because its insulation properties are as effective as the more toxic fibreglass.
Fly ash, if you’d never heard of it we’re not surprised, neither had we, but it’s the by-product of burning coal for electricity production and it’s now being used to make eco-friendly cement replacements. The fly ash increases strength and durability, and is also much lighter than cement, cutting down on transport costs.
Food, there is a creamery in America powered by electricity made from methane. A machine called a digester is fed with scraps from the cheese-making process, and manure from the milk-producing dairy cattle. Since 2014, they have reused over 20 million pounds of food waste to produce electricity for their creamery.
There is now a building method called ‘Earthships’ which involves using recycled tyres filled with earth to create the walls of houses. These buildings help to provide comfortable indoor temperatures in inhospitable climates. They also use recycled bottles and cans on non-load-bearing walls.
So, it’s not all bad news, world recycling is moving at pace as we become more and more aware of the damage we are doing to our planet, and hopefully, future generations will improve on the innovations started now.