Waste, Waste, Waste

Waste, Waste , Waste

Despite efforts made by many of us to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, the fact is we’re generating more landfill trash now than ever before. Our waste is projected to nearly double globally over the next 15 years, this equates to 1.3 billion tons of landfill waste annually, which is projected to increase to 2.2 billion tons by 2025.

Much of what is consider as waste can often be recycled, composted or reused in some other form, unfortunately there are still many items and materials that have no further economic or practical use. These truly are ‘waste’ and
this is what interests me, finding a material or ‘waste stream” that has no other alternative but to go to landfill. How can this be used in concrete to create for example; a light weight flexible concrete.

The waste streams chosen for initial research are Lycra, wet blue, paint waste, Synthetic Carpet waste, Natural Carpet waste, Carpet Underlay, Egg shell, Chicken feathers, PU foam closed and PU foam opened.

The aim of this project is therefore, to create an architectural façade panel that will be made from a low carbon based concrete and use a waste stream to enhance the concrete characteristics (this will be dependent on the waste stream chosen). This will be used as a habitat either for plants, microbes and microorganisms.