Material Streams

Research on

MaterialStreams

Work By: Caitlin Andonian Lorenzo Buffa Joon Gi Shin

Mark Scafini Anushi Patel Willam Schaecher Daeun Song

MaterialStream

What is a material stream?

MaterialStream

What is a material stream?

What materials fall into the stream?

MaterialStream

What is a material stream?

What materials fall into the stream?

Do these systems overlap?

MaterialStream

Virgin Inputs

MaterialStream

E

Virgin Inputs

CO 2

Raw Material Acquisition

MaterialStream

E

Virgin Inputs

CO 2

E

Raw Material Acquisition

CO 2

Manufacturing

MaterialStream

E

Virgin Inputs

CO 2

E

Raw Material Acquisition

CO 2

Manufacturing

Consumption

MaterialStream E

cli Recy E

Virgin Inputs

CO 2

E

Raw Material Acquisition

CO 2

ng

n cycling Dow

CO 2

Manufacturing

Consumption

U pc ycling

MaterialStream E

cli Recy E

Virgin Inputs

CO 2

E

Raw Material Acquisition

CO 2

ng

n cycling Dow

CO 2

Manufacturing

Consumption

U pc ycling

E

CO 2

Waste Management

MaterialStream E

CO 2

E cli Recy E

Virgin Inputs

CO 2

E

Raw Material Acquisition

ng

n cycling Dow

CO 2

CO 2

Manufacturing

Consumption

E

Combustion

CO 2

Waste Management

Composting

U pc ycling

CH 4

Landfill

MaterialStream Landfills

Storage + Sealing

MaterialStream Landfills

-243 million tons -1/3 recovered -17% of U.S. methane emissions

Materials in landfills

MaterialStream Combustion

Saving Space + Weight + Energy

MaterialStream Combustion 1 Ton of Waste

-90% volume reduction -75% weight reduction

.67 MWh of electric

2 MWh of heat Waste Conversion Rate

-Ash used in top soil at landfills

MaterialStream Composting Organic Matter

Fertilizer

MaterialStream Composting Compostable Materials in Landfills

-1/4 of landfills are compostable -Most eco-friendly -DIY

MaterialStream Cardboard

Raw Material • Use almost all part of wood (body to trunk)

Manufacturing Material • Grinding, heating, and pulping • Corrugating (corn starch glue) • Recycle scraps

Manufacturing Product • Design • Packing • Furniture

Customer • DIY • Trash • Reuse Package

Waste management • Sorting paper for recycling • Laminated paper : combustion, landfill • Compression : reduce transportation fee

90% • Recycle up to 90% of paper

Package = Product • Reduce energy • Extend life of paper • Prevent over packaging

MaterialStream Ceramic

- Products are produced via molding methods, hand work, compression and coating.

- Common products include plumbing/sinks, tiles, pottery, and coating on things that endure high heat.

- Ceramic cannot be recycled.

- It is often downcycled into a lightweight aggregate, which is used in multiple grades of cement.

MaterialStream Glass

- Glass is then broken and heated before being processed into products. Processes include blowing, pouring, float glass, etc.

- Products include windows, bottles and housewares, etc.

- Glass can be infinitely recycled without losing strength, purity or quality.

- Medical waste must be handled under OSHA and is not permitted in the landfill.

- Glass can also be used in aggregate.

- Glass recycling and reusing can work on many scales, from industrial to residential. Finding useful ways to reuse products of a lasting material may be a useful tool for a community.

- The EPA suggests donating glass to artisans first.

MaterialStream Gypsum

Raw State • Gypsum occurs in nature as flattened crystals - water soluble • One of the most common forms of raw gypsum is a pure white crystal called alabaster Synthetic • Produced from flue-gas-desufurization at coal-powererd powerplants • Is seen as a ‘green’ product due to the fact that it converts sufur dioxide into a product that stays out of the landfill

Processing • Gypsum is ground into fine powder, boiled to remove moisture, and dried for future use • “The only natural substance that can be restored to its original rock-like state by the addition of water alone.”

• Paper pulp and starch may be added to gypsum to aid the paper in adhering to the core

Applications • Drywall • Fertilizer • Soil conditioner • Plaster of Paris • Cement additive • Mold for metal casting

Companies USA Gypsum Reinholds, PA • Makes compost additive/ animal bedding • Does not accept demolition drywall Gypsum Recycling USA

USG Corporation • Largest US manufacturer of wallboard • Has strict standards on safety and purity when recycling • Does not accept demolition drywall • “..Is currently in the process of developing a national gypsum recycling program”

• Provides service all throughout New England • Recycles gypsum drywall for the manufacture of new drywall • Has the machinery to refine demolition drywall

Recycling

Downcycling

Gypsum powder is ground down and resused for construction materials: “Closed Loop Recycling”

Gypsum and paper are separated and used for agricultural products

Uses • New Drywall • Cement • Ceiling Tiles

Uses • Compost Additive • Mulch • Animal Bedding

Combustion

Landfills

Composting

• Hydrogen sulfate gas is harmful and can corrode metal. These gases would ruin any machinery used in the combustion process.

• Wallboard is generally landfillled if it comes from an older home where lead paint or asbestos compound may have been used.

• Gypsum panels must be sent to a Type 2 landfill, where waste is separated into different regions.

• Large quantities of gypsum mixed with organic material can lead to water contamination.

MaterialStream Plastics

Raw ingredients / Oil to plastic About 10% of U.S. oil consumption is used to make plastics.

Only 5% of plastics are recycled.

Transportation

Grinding

Sorting

Drying and Pelletizing Fabrication

New Products

It is composed of 100%

recycled plastic.

Furniture

Trash

MaterialStream Pallets

Wooden pallets are the most commonly used pallets in world.

It is estimated that 90% of all pallets are made of wood.

Pallets are a by-product and waste product.

They exist to serve manufacturer and consumer demands alike.

Because wood is a natural resource, and wood pallets have a short lifespan, they use a lot more raw material.

Using pallets as the structural foundation, can we build a stucture for Greensgrow?

Can this be something that enhances the experience for the Greensgrow community?

Manufacturers Benefit • cost efficient • simple • standardized • serves as structural foundation for product or delivery of goods

Greensgrow Benefit • free material • extending a waste products lifecycle • standardized • serves as a structural foundation for learning and resale

MaterialStream Comparing

Cardboard

Cardboard Glass

Ceramics Glass Cardboard

Gypsum Ceramics Glass Cardboard

Plastics Gypsum Ceramics Glass Cardboard

Pallets Plastics Gypsum Ceramics Glass Cardboard

Raw Material

Raw Material

E

CO 2

Energy consumption

Raw Material

E

CO 2

Energy consumption

Design and Manufacturing

Raw Material

E

Design and Manufacturing

CO 2

Energy consumption

Waste Management

Raw Material

E

Design and Manufacturing

CO 2

Energy consumption

Waste Management

User Participation

Raw Material

E

Design and Manufacturing

User Participation

CO 2

Energy consumption

Waste Management

Composting

Combustion Landfills