Recently in Recycling Category

"Over the past couple years I've been developing a public seating program with the City of Manhattan Beach, as a result of winning an artists' competition initiated by their Cultural Arts Committee. Their objective was to find designs for a series of beach/strand furnishings that are to be site-specific, recyclable, and suited for long-term use," explains the designer, Stacy Dukes of Santa Ana, CA.

During the design process Dukes discovered a recently introduced ceramic-based composite (85% recycled industrial ceramic waste) that is fully recyclable. After testing, this material proved to be highly resistant to any damage from scratching, staining, oxidation, etc. Being cold-formed it eliminates production of greenhouse gasses, while UV has little or no effect and graffiti can be easily removed as it is non-absorbent.

The first benches that have been installed in alcoves along the boardwalk. Upon evaluation Dukes' team found that, unlike concrete or wood, the material dissipates heat and that the benches are virtually maintenance free. In terms of both design and material, we expect unsurpassed longevity.

Stacy Dukes Design, SDD, is a highly creative, full service design and production company specializing in architectural graphics and signage systems, visual communication and product development.

What makes Stacy Dukes Design unique is not only the capability to handle a project from start to finish -- from planning, concept and design development to in-house production and coordination with outside services -- but also the commitment to "break the barriers" in design and materials. With all aspects of a project under one umbrella, the complete process is expedited and the quality maintained at no extra cost.

Stacy Dukes Design
3201 W Warner Ave
Santa Ana CA 92704
Tel: 714 241 9144
www.StacyDukesDesign.com

Each year, over 80 million tons of plastic is generated in the U.S. Plastic makes up about 10% of the waste stream and is climbing. With about 70 million U.S. households engaged in some kind of gardening activity, the amount of plastics from that alone is considerable.

In the horticultural industry alone, about 350 million pounds of plastic is produced each year.

Where do all those plastic pots go?

The Missouri Botanical Garden operates one of the most extensive residential garden recycling programs in the country.  They collected 150,000 pounds of horticulture waste in 2008 -- all those plastic pots with nowhere to go!

To date the Botanical Garden has collected 35 tons of plastic garden pots, polystyrene cell packs and trays -- and that kept them out of landfills. They annual campaign is now a six month collection period from May through October.  Retail garden centers throughout the metro St. Louis area participate as satellite collection sites. Plastic is ground into small chips that are easily transported for recycling.

More than 75 volunteeers donated more than 1,000 hours to collect the recycled plastic. Proceeds from the plastic timbers are used to add to the Botanical Garden's collections.

Additional program support comes from  Missouri  Dept. of Natural Resources, Environmental Improvement and Energy Resource Authority as well as the private Monrovia Growers company.

Program organizers hope to offer the program as a model for other communities. 

INFORMATION:
Missouri
www.mobot.org/hort/activ/plasticpots.shtml
314-577-9561