Pioneering Waste-Reusing Plastic Roads
by: Eco Geek Latest, 2015-07-16 16:34:57 UTC

A new way of building roads with recycled plastic is being developed by Dutch company KWS Infra. As a resident of Michigan, where the combination of hard northern winters and a legislature that refuses to do its job have led to a statewide condition with many roads in embarrassingly bad shape, this hits close to home. The plastic roads are claimed to offer a number of advantages that make this a potentially revolutionary technology.

The proposed system is going to use “100% recycled materials” according to the company. If plastic-based roads can serve to make a use for more plastic waste and keep it from entering waste streams, that could be a huge benefit all by itself. The premanufactured road sections are modular, and would be built in a factory and then shipped to the work site where they could be installed faster than conventionally-built roads can be completed. The plastic road modules are also better able to be installed over sand or poor soil (which is a frequent issue in the Netherlands). The modular units can also contain chases for electrical wireways or other infrastructure to be incorporated. As with other premanufactured systems and components, there can be better quality control of manufacturing as opposed to work done in the field. The modular road sections are also lighter in weight, meaning less impact on roads and less transportation energy to deliver materials.

The plastic road could be more durable and longer lasting than conventional paving, and is resistant to a wide range of temperatures (although it might not be suitable for use in far northerly regions). “Plastic Road is also virtually maintenance free. It is resistant to corrosion and weathering. So it can easily to temperatures from -40 to +80 degrees Celsius and it is much more resistant to chemical attack. We estimate that the life span of roads can be tripled.” (article translated via Google Translate) Having a material that won’t develop potholes could be a huge advantage if the plastic road is able to deliver that.  Presumably the modular panels have some structural strength which gives them the ability to span over poor soils, and that might also help in resisting damage from frost heave.  Having panels that can be more quickly replaced could also lead to less road blockage and delay during construction (and less idling vehicles is yet another environmental side benefit that could come from these roads).

Other interesting technologies, like solar roadways, might dovetail with the modular construction of plastic roads, enabling both systems to be adopted more readily by combining the benefits of both in a single system.  The open chases of the plastic roads could also make it fairly easy for the solar panels to be prewired in the factory, and only need to make connections between modules in order to connect the system.

The list of potential features the plastic roads offer is impressive. The company is now looking for a partner and a location for a demonstration pilot program to test these roads and see how well they perform in real-world conditions.

via: Construction Data Building Blocks Blog

Personalized 3D printed casts to better heal broken limbs
by: TreeHugger Design, 2015-07-31 17:33:40 UTC
Could the bulky, burdensome casts of yesterday give way to streamlined and personally tailored solutions?

With This Airbnb For Energy, Now You Can Buy Solar Power From Your Neighbor
by: Co.Exist, 2015-07-15 15:46:00 UTC

The sharing economy meets renewable energy.

In the last six years, the price of solar power has fallen by at least 50%. And yet, for most Americans, that fact hardly matters, because they're not able to take advantage. Either their roof is facing the wrong way, there's too much shading from trees or other buildings, or they're renters rather than owners, so the decision isn't for them to make.

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These Infinitely Recyclable Clothes Are Made From Ocean Trash And Other Plastic Waste
by: Co.Exist, 2015-07-16 16:22:00 UTC

World surf champion Kelly Slater is doing something with all the trash in the ocean—he's wearing it.

If Outerknown's new board shorts ever tear after riding too many waves, you could theoretically recycle them into a new pair. They're from a new line of men's clothing that is made entirely from plastic trash. When the clothes wear out, they can be fully upcycled into a brand-new shirt or jacket.

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Janine Benyus: Inventing the Eco-Industrial Age
by: Biomimicry 3.8, 2015-07-15 20:49:36 UTC

“Could a large-scale industrial factory actually be designed to be good for the environment and for the ecosystem that surrounds it? And could that, in turn, generate long-term economic value for the population of people connected to that factory? Author and global bioengineering guru Janine Benyus doesn’t just believe it’s possible—she’s partnering with the world’s biggest carpet tile manufacturer to set the example to follow.”

Click here to read the full article.

TU Delft students break world record with human-powered submarine
by: TU delft news, 2015-07-02 08:47:00 UTC
Last night in Maryland (US), TU Delft students broke the world speed record for human-powered submarines. They achieved a speed of 7.42 knots (13.74 km/h) with their WASUB V. The previous record of 13.49 km/h had been held by students from the École de technologie supérieure, a Canadian university. The Delft students broke the world record during the International Submarine Races, a competition held in a large test basin belonging to the US Navy in Maryland. The students also won the...

Nestlé Launches Recycled Plastic Water Bottle
by: Environmental Leader, 2015-07-07 11:37:18 UTC
One of Nestlé’s bottled water brands, resource Natural Spring Water, has launched new bottles made with 100 percent recycled plastic (rPET), excluding the cap and the label. The company says it hopes the recycled plastic bottle will focus attention on the uses of rPET and reinforce the importance of bottle-to-bottle recycling. Parent company Nestlé Waters […]

Biosolid Drying System Turns Revenue Drain into Revenue Source
by: Environmental Leader, 2015-07-07 11:55:20 UTC
A mid-sized Arkansas city has eliminated transportation and landfill costs associated with biosolid waste disposal by using Therma-Flite’s Bio-Scru thermal dryer. The city needed a system that could transform biosolids into Class A product. The city’s previous treatment system consisted of an advanced nutrient removal system and the production of Class B waste, which was […]