:: Specific Design Brief
LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY:
Reduce, Reuse,
Recycle
LU 1: COLLECTING MORE -
further information
PRODUCT DESIGN UK
- BACKGROUND
OPEN-ENDED BRIEF
� It has been recommended for many years that reducing, reusing and
recycling provide many opportunities for environmental improvements in our
own and other countries and in product manufacture. Design and make a
product that uses at least one of those criteria.
SPECIFIC BRIEF
- New targets are soon to be introduced for the recycling and recovery of
packaging waste. Although it is likely to be possible to meet the plastic
recycling target for 2006 from industrial waste sources, more metal and glass is
going to have to be extracted from the domestic waste stream. Design an
appropriate separation and storage system for household use.
Likely recycling targets for 2006:
� |
Paper |
Glass |
Metal |
Plastic |
Recycling |
Recovery |
Targets for 2001 |
15% |
15% |
15% |
15% |
25-40% |
50-65% |
Achieved in 2001 (estimate) |
52% |
33% |
35% |
16% |
42% |
48% |
Proposal for 2006 |
55% |
60% |
50% |
20% |
55-70% |
60-75% |
� |
(Source: Mark Downs, Recoup Annual General Meeting, 2002) |
�
2001 Compar ing
the second row with the first shows that the recycling targets were met in 2001.
The �recovery� heading includes other useful outputs from the waste stream (eg
energy from incineration).
� 2006 Comparing the second and third rows shows that it is glass and metal that
need to be significantly increased.
Currently it is thought that it is likely to be possible to meet the plastic
recycling target for 2006 from industrial waste sources, but that more metal and
glass is going to have to be extracted from the domestic waste stream.
Further information concerning this design task can be found on the Centre for
Alternative Technology website, (http://www.cat.org.uk)
in the education section.
Some
issues that the design must address
� separation of the different types of metal
� either, an appropriate volume to match the current frequency of visits to a
recycling centre
� or, safe compaction
� acceptable styling for UK households
� acceptable cost to UK households
� design suitable for UK manufacture
� appropriate material selection
� hygiene issues associated with the contents of the glass and metal containers
FURTHER
SUPPORT INFORMATION
They show the kind of products currently stored in glass and metal containers in
UK households. It is likely that the collection and recycling of waste batteries
will be required soon in relation to the Waste Electrical and Electronic
Equipment (WEEE) Directive. The WEEE Directive will come into force in the next
year or so.
� |