Check out the Lakes Area Precious Plastic Lab at Summer Events

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

For Immediate Release: Check Out the Lakes Area Precious Plastic Lab at Summer Events July 14, 2021 – Otter Tail County – The Lakes Area Precious Plastic Lab is hosting several events this summer where residents can come and learn about plastic waste and engage in some hands-on recycling and art! The Lakes Area Precious Plastic Lab is a plastic recycling makerspace located in the Otter Tail County Recycling Center that got started last year thanks to a Changemaker grant from West Central Initiative. The Plastic Lab has a shredder, compression oven, injection machine and molds, and extrusion machine that can be used to recycle waste plastic into objects like bowls, tiles, letters, or art. Precious Plastic is a global community of recycling innovators that provide open-source designs for machines that can transform ordinary plastic waste items into useful products and art. Communities all over the world have Precious Plastic workshops where they collect plastic, shred plastic and create products from recycled plastic. The goal of Precious Plastic is to have people see plastic as the ‘precious’ resource that it is instead of something disposable by making durable and beautiful objects out of waste plastic. There are multiple opportunities this summer to check out this unique and exciting new project! Learn how to injection mold a recycled plastic tile at pop-up events located at Springboard for the Arts and the New York Mills Cultural Center. Multiple area artists have been creating art and other items at the Plastic Lab which will be on display at the first public open house on August 10th. POP-UP EVENTS – Make an injection molded tile! Thursday, July 15th from 5:00-8:00 at Springboard for the Arts Thursday, July 22nd from 5:00-8:00 at Springboard for the Arts Tuesday, August 3rd from 4:00-6:00 at the New York Mills Cultural Center OPEN HOUSE – Machine demonstrations, make an injection molded tile, collaborative plastic art installation, and more! Tuesday, August 10th from 4:00 – 7:00 at the Otter Tail County Recycling Center (Project overview and artist introductions at 5:30 pm) The Plastic Lab is available to use as a workspace for individuals who have competed an orientation session with staff. If you are interested in learning how to use the machines in the Plastic Lab, contact Cedar Walters at 218-998-8914 or [email protected]. For more information about this project visit ottertailcountymn.us/lakes-area-precious-plastic-mix-workspace/ or www.facebook.com/groups/lakesareapreciousplastic. Press Contact Cedar Walters Public Information and Education Officer Otter Tail County Solid Waste 218-998-8914 [email protected] .

Copy Link

Recommended publications

Types of Plastic and Their Recycle Codes | Quality Logo Products®
7/24/2018 Types of Plastic and Their Recycle Codes | Quality Logo Products® Product Search Your privacy will be protected by redirecting your search to Search Encrypt. Learn More X ALL ABOUT MATERIALS Types of Plastic and Their Recycle Codes Other Lessons in This Course Types of Plastic Plastic is an essential component of many items, including water bottles, combs, and beverage containers. Knowing the difference, as well as the SPI codes, will help you make more informed decisions about recycling. The seven types of plastic include: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE or PET) High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Miscellaneous plastics (includes: polycarbonate, polylactide, acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene, styrene, fiberglass, and nylon) When it comes to promotional giveaways, and even items we use around the house, there is no material more important than plastic. The same can be said for the items we use at the office. Most of our supplies contain at least a little bit of this material. In fact, humans have thus far produced 9.1 billion tons of plastic! For the sake of the environment, it’s important to know the different types of plastic and their uses, as well as the resin identification codes found on each for the sake of recycling. Recycling Codes for Plastic Understanding the different types of plastic can help consumers like you make more informed decisions related to your health and the environment. It’s important to become familiar with an item’s SPI (Society of the Plastics Industry) code, which is also known as a resin identification number and is used to classify the different types of plastic.
[Show full text]
Primary Microplastics in the Oceans: a Global Evaluation of Sources Authors: Julien Boucher, Damien Friot
Primary Microplastics in the Oceans: a Global Evaluation of Sources Authors: Julien Boucher, Damien Friot INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE Primary Microplastics in the Oceans: a Global Evaluation of Sources Authors: Julien Boucher, Damien Friot The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of IUCN. Published by: IUCN, Gland, Switzerland Copyright: © 2017 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorised without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Citation: Boucher, J. and Friot D. (2017). Primary Microplastics in the Oceans: A Global Evaluation of Sources. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. 43pp. ISBN: 978-2-8317-1827-9 DOI: dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.CH.2017.01.en Authors: Julien Boucher EA – Shaping Environmental Action & University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland // HES-SO, HEIG-VD, Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland Damien Friot EA – Shaping Environmental Action www.shaping-ea.com [email protected] Editor: Carl Gustaf Lundin and João Matos de Sousa External reviewers: Francis Vorhies (Earthmind, http://earthmind.org) François Galgani (IFREMER, Laboratoire LER/PAC) Mathieu Pernice (University of Technology, Sydney) Doug Woodring (www.oceanrecov.org) Designed by: Imre Sebestyén jr.
[Show full text]
The Facts About Plastic Bags: Recyclable, Affordable, and Convenient
THE FACTS ABOUT PLASTIC BAGS: RECYCLABLE, AFFORDABLE, AND CONVENIENT Plastic bags are 100% recyclable, reusable, made from natural gas, not oil, and a sustainable choice for consumers, communities and businesses. What’s more, the plastic bag manufacturing and recycling industry is a uniquely American industry that employs more than 30,000 Americans in 349 plants across the country, including more than 1,000 people in Washington state. Bans and taxes on plastic bags are misguided policies that don’t make sense. They don’t help the environment, force less sustainable options, threaten local manufacturing jobs and raise grocery costs for consumers. Instead of banning a reusable, 100% recyclable, American-made product, recycling solutions can help reduce litter, give consumers a choice, and protect American jobs. Plastic grocery bags are the best checkout option for our environment On a per bag basis, plastic bags are more resource efficient, reduce landfill waste and generate fewer greenhouse gas emissions. o They take up a lot less space in a landfill: 1,000 plastic bags weigh 13 pounds; 1,000 paper bags weigh 114 pounds.i o They generate 80 % less waste than paper bags.ii American plastic bags are made from natural gas, NOT oil. In the U.S., 85 percent of the raw material used to make plastic bags is produced from natural gas.iii Recycled plastic bags are used to make new plastic bags and building products, such as backyard decks, playground equipment, and fences. Bans haven’t worked in other places, and don’t protect the environment A ban would make no difference in litter reduction since plastic bags only make up a tiny fraction (less than 0.5 %) of the U.S.
[Show full text]
Improving Plastics Management: Trends, Policy Responses, and the Role of International Co-Operation and Trade
Improving Plastics Management: Trends, policy responses, and the role of international co-operation and trade POLICY PERSPECTIVES OECD ENVIRONMENT POLICY PAPER NO. 12 OECD . 3 This Policy Paper comprises the Background Report prepared by the OECD for the G7 Environment, Energy and Oceans Ministers. It provides an overview of current plastics production and use, the environmental impacts that this is generating and identifies the reasons for currently low plastics recycling rates, as well as what can be done about it. Disclaimers This paper is published under the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD. The opinions expressed and the arguments employed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views of OECD member countries. This document and any map included herein are without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries and to the name of any territory, city or area. For Israel, change is measured between 1997-99 and 2009-11. The statistical data for Israel are supplied by and under the responsibility of the relevant Israeli authorities. The use of such data by the OECD is without prejudice to the status of the Golan Heights, East Jerusalem and Israeli settlements in the West Bank under the terms of international law. Copyright You can copy, download or print OECD content for your own use, and you can include excerpts from OECD publications, databases and multimedia products in your own documents, presentations, blogs, websites and teaching materials, provided that suitable acknowledgment of OECD as source and copyright owner is given.
[Show full text]
Plastic Industry Awareness of the Ocean Plastics Problem
Fueling Plastics Plastic Industry Awareness of the Ocean Plastics Problem • Scientists became aware of the ocean plastics problem in the 1950s, and understanding of the nature and severity of the problem grew over the next decades. • The major chemical and petroleum companies and industry groups were aware of the ocean plastics problem no later than the 1970s. • Plastics producers have often taken the position that they are only responsible for plastic waste in the form of resin pellets, and that other forms of plastic waste are out of their control. The use of plastics in consumer resins and the fossil fuel companies the twentieth century. Early observ- goods has been expanding exponen- supplying them with chemical feed- ers concerned about marine plas- tially since the late 1940s. Within stocks — have known about this tics were specifically worried about years of that expansion beginning, problem and for how long. The re- marine animals becoming entan- observers began to document plas- mainder of this document presents a gled in discarded fishing gear and tic pollution in the environment, brief overview of the history of pub- other plastic wastes. As noted by including in the world’s oceans. lic and industry awareness of marine the United States’ National Oce- Plastic is a pollutant of unique con- plastic pollution. Although this his- anic and Atmospheric Administra- cern because it is durable over long torical account is detailed, it is far tion (NOAA), “[p]rior to the 1950s periods of time and its effects accu- from comprehensive, and additional much of the fishing gear and land- mulate as more of it is produced and research is forthcoming.
[Show full text]
North American Recycled Plastic Processing Capacity Increases Published January 17, 2020
NERC‐NEWMOA REGIONAL RECYCLING MARKETS COMMITTEE North American Recycled Plastic Processing Capacity Increases Published January 17, 2020 INTRODUCTION The following is a list of increases in North American capacity to process recyclable plastics into products such as plastic lumber, pellets or resins for end‐markets. These increases were announced or completed in 2017 or later. The list covers facilities that have been publicly identified in either the trade or local press. Details of these new plastic processing facilities tend to have less information than similar announcements of expanded recycled end‐market capacity in the paper industry. For instance, announcements of projected opening dates have not, in many cases, been accompanied by press releases or news stories confirming the opening. In addition, few of the facilities are taking mixed plastics. Instead, they are relying on MRFs or other processors to do the initial resin sorting. Each facility listing includes: Name and whether new or expanded facility location projected processing capacity (input) and/or production capacity (output) in tons per year (TPY) 1 product projected opening date This list will be updated as new capacity is announced or new information received. If you have information about capacity expansions not listed here or corrections to the information on this list, please contact Chaz Miller, Chair, NERC‐NEWMOA Regional Recycling Markets Committee, [email protected], 301‐346‐6507. List of acronyms ABS = acrylonitrile butadiene styrene PET = polyethylene terephthalate EPS = expanded polystyrene PP = polypropylene HDPE = high density polyethylene PVC = poly vinyl chloride LDPE = low density polyethylene RPET = recycled PET LLDPE = linear low‐density polyethylene TPM = tons per month PC = polycarbonate TPY = tons per year 1 Some facilities reported in metric tonnes per year.
[Show full text]
Bio-Based and Biodegradable Plastics – Facts and Figures Focus on Food Packaging in the Netherlands
Bio-based and biodegradable plastics – Facts and Figures Focus on food packaging in the Netherlands Martien van den Oever, Karin Molenveld, Maarten van der Zee, Harriëtte Bos Rapport nr. 1722 Bio-based and biodegradable plastics - Facts and Figures Focus on food packaging in the Netherlands Martien van den Oever, Karin Molenveld, Maarten van der Zee, Harriëtte Bos Report 1722 Colophon Title Bio-based and biodegradable plastics - Facts and Figures Author(s) Martien van den Oever, Karin Molenveld, Maarten van der Zee, Harriëtte Bos Number Wageningen Food & Biobased Research number 1722 ISBN-number 978-94-6343-121-7 DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.18174/408350 Date of publication April 2017 Version Concept Confidentiality No/yes+date of expiration OPD code OPD code Approved by Christiaan Bolck Review Intern Name reviewer Christaan Bolck Sponsor RVO.nl + Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs Client RVO.nl + Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs Wageningen Food & Biobased Research P.O. Box 17 NL-6700 AA Wageningen Tel: +31 (0)317 480 084 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.wur.nl/foodandbiobased-research © Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, institute within the legal entity Stichting Wageningen Research All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system of any nature, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. The publisher does not accept any liability for inaccuracies in this report. 2 © Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, institute within the legal entity Stichting Wageningen Research Preface For over 25 years Wageningen Food & Biobased Research (WFBR) is involved in research and development of bio-based materials and products.
[Show full text]
Let's Make Good Stuff
LET’S MAKE GOOD STUFF: COMBATTING PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE AND JUNK BY RELEARNING REPAIR, MAINTENANCE, AND PERSONAL AGENCY OVER THE THINGS AROUND US. by Nathanael Scheffl er A thesis presented to the University of Waterloo in fulfi llment of the thesis requirement for the degree of Master of Architecture Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 2021 © Nathanael Scheffl er 2021 i ii AUTHORS DECLARATION I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this thesis. This is a true copy of the thesis, including any required fi nal revisions, as accepted by my examiners. I understand that my thesis may be made electronically available to the public. iii iv ABSTRACT Let’s Make Good Stuff explores our relationship with the designed objects around us. Mass produced items have an increased ability to provide ev- eryone with good design, or to fi ll our world with sub-par products. This thesis sets out to defi ne the diff erence between junk and good stuff , and to create an understanding of the importance of pursuing quality in the things we make. Following in the footsteps of artists like Damien Ortega and Hans Hansen, as well as modern technology reviewers like iFixit, this thesis uses the tool of the teardown - the disassembly of something into its individual parts - to examine and become familiar with the histories and mechanics of mass production. Working with power tools as the area of focus, several ques- tions begin to surface: What can be repaired, and what is worth repairing? How can we design better products that engage users in maintenance? And how can we engage in maintenance and repair work in products that weren’t originally intended for it? In beginning to answer these questions, the thesis aims to show how designers and individuals can aim to make a more repairable and sustainable future.
[Show full text]
Plastic Recycling March 2020
Shenandoah County NEWS RELEASE Office of the County Administrator 600 N. Main Street, Suite 102 Woodstock, VA 22664 540-459-6165 FAX 540-459-6168 www.shenandoahcountyva.us For Immediate Release March 4, 2020 Media Contact: Patrick Felling, Director of Public Services 540-325-8982 [email protected] Shenandoah County Announces Changes to Recycling Program. (Woodstock, VA) — In response to ever changing recycling market conditions, Shenandoah County announced effective immediately they will only accept bottles and jugs for plastic recycling. According to Evan Vass, County Administrator, the County was informed in mid-February that their plastics recycling vendor would no longer accept most plastic types; only plastic numbers 1 and 2 in bottle or jug form are being accepted. “The Solid Waste program attempted to locate another vendor to recycle other types of plastic, but no viable alternatives could be located,” said Vass. The modification in Shenandoah County’s program follows that of changes affecting localities throughout the state and nation. Neighboring counties and cities, including Rockingham, Harrisonburg, Frederick and Winchester, have already restricted their recycling to plastic types 1 and 2. “We estimate that less than half of the plastic currently collected at County sites are bottles and jugs,” said Patrick Felling, County Director of Public Services. “Our staff will now spend hours every day sorting and separating the material that cannot be shipped out. We ask that those citizens using our recycling centers deposit only #1 and #2 bottles and jugs,” said Felling. Those plastics that cannot be recycled will be landfilled. Vass emphasized, “Our other recycling programs will continue, including cardboard, paper, glass, aluminum, and other scrap metals.” ### Page 1 of 1 .
[Show full text]
Repurposing Plastic Waste in El Cercado
Honors Thesis Honors Program 5-10-2019 Repurposing Plastic Waste in El Cercado Joseph Dooling Loyola Marymount University, [email protected] Kirby Townsend Loyola Marymount University, [email protected] Brendan Smith Loyola Marymount University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/honors-thesis Part of the Heat Transfer, Combustion Commons, and the Manufacturing Commons Recommended Citation Dooling, Joseph; Townsend, Kirby; and Smith, Brendan, "Repurposing Plastic Waste in El Cercado" (2019). Honors Thesis. 180. https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/honors-thesis/180 This Honors Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Honors Program at Digital Commons @ Loyola Marymount University and Loyola Law School. It has been accepted for inclusion in Honors Thesis by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons@Loyola Marymount University and Loyola Law School. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Repurposing Plastic Waste in El Cercado A thesis submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements of the University Honors Program of Loyola Marymount University By Joseph Dooling May 10th, 2019 Repurposing Plastic Waste in El Cercado Final Design Review Prepared by Meghanne Clark, Joe Dooling, Marcus Lui, Kirby Townsend Faculty Advisor: Dr. Brendan Smith Ph.D Loyola Marymount University Mechanical Engineering Department Spring Semester 2019 2 Abstract This project aims to assist the community of El Cercado in the Dominican Republic in turning their plastic waste into useful products. The design team developed a first iteration shredder, injector, and aluminum mold which future design teams could further iterate in order to make products out of waste plastic.
[Show full text]
Breaking the Plastic Wave Report
Breaking the Plastic Wave A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF PATHWAYS TOWARDS STOPPING OCEAN PLASTIC POLLUTION Thought Partners FULL REPORT About The Pew Charitable Trusts The Pew Charitable Trusts is driven by the power of knowledge to solve today’s most challenging problems. Pew applies a rigorous, analytical approach to improve public policy, inform the public, and invigorate civic life. As the United States and the world have evolved, we have remained dedicated to our founders’ emphasis on innovation. Today, Pew is a global research and public policy organization, still operated as an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the public. Informed by the founders’ interest in research, practical knowledge, and public service, our portfolio includes public opinion research; arts and culture; civic initiatives; and environmental, health, state, and consumer policy initiatives. Our goal is to make a difference for the public. That means working on a few key issues, with an emphasis on projects that can produce consequential outcomes, foster new ideas, attract partners, avoid partisanship or wishful thinking, and achieve measurable results that serve the public interest. Learn more at https://www.pewtrusts.org/en For more information, contact us at [email protected] About SYSTEMIQ SYSTEMIQ Ltd. is a certified B Corp with offices in London, Munich, and Jakarta. The company was founded in 2016 to drive the achievements of the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by transforming markets and business models in three key economic systems: land use, materials, and energy. Since 2016, SYSTEMIQ has been involved in several system change initiatives related to plastics and packaging, including the New Plastics Economy initiative (Ellen MacArthur Foundation) and Project STOP (a city partnership programme focused on eliminating plastic pollution in Indonesia), among others.
[Show full text]
These DIY Machines Let Anyone Recycle Plastic Into New Products
MENUNEWSLETTERSUBSCRIBE Technology Leadership Entertainment 10.30.17 Ideas Video These DIY Machines Let Anyone RecNyewcsle Plastic Into New Products Precious Plastic is giving instructions on how to build a series of simple machines that will let makers turn plastic trash into new material. 1/14 One low-cost machine that shreds plastic into ﬂakes. [Photo: Precious Plastic] BY ADELE PETERS 2 MINUTE READ In a workshop in downtown Chang Mai, Thailand, designers turn plastic trash–mostly plastic bags they collect from the street–into marblelike coasters and tabletops. In a maker space in Lviv, Ukraine, designers use DIY equipment hacked from old industrial parts and a shopping cart to recycle plastic trash into bowls. In Seoul, designers use a mobile plastic recycling cart for education. The majority of the 300 million tons of plastic produced every year isn’t recycled, and recycling that does happen typically happens at an industrial scale in factories using equipment that can cost tens of thousands of dollars. But a growing number of designers are using a set of opensource, easytobuild tools to recycle plastic and manufacture new plastic products on their own. See how it works: Precious Plastic - Promo “We want to make smallscale plastic recycling accessible to everyone, as this can have an exponential effect on the amount of plastic recycled–eventually reducing the demand for new virgin plastic–and educate millions of people on plastic, plastic recycling, and how to handle it before it ends up in the environment,” says Dave Hakkens, the Dutch founder of Precious Plastic, an organization that designed the machines now in use by the designers in Thailand and the Ukraine, and more than 200 others.
[Show full text]