Recycling

Watching “Giving Packaging a New Life” by Duales Systems of Germanys gave me great insight into the world of recycling. I had no idea how complex and advanced the recycling process is. In my mind I thought it would be two chaps sitting next to a conveyor belt sorting it by hand. I didn’t realise there was such a mechanical involvement.

And considering the video is a fair few years old I bet the sorting and processing machines are now a lot more efficient. It’s crazy to think that an infra red scanner can determine the type of plastic and sort it. I truly hope that these machines are implemented in countries other than wealthy European nations.

I was really happy to see what the recycled matter gets used for, I didn’t realise it would be used for anything other than low grade manufacturing. It also makes me realise that as a designer there is a great responsibility to create products that can be easily recycled so they don’t make a great contribution to landfill.

Recycling has definitely come a long way in Australia in the past few years. I remember when I was knee high to a grass hoppers eye; we didn’t have a recycling collection service in Griffith. My dad being the eco-warrior that he is used to collect papers, bottles and cans and take them to the recycling depot every Sunday. He would always persuade my sister and me into helping him with the promise of an ice cream. A couple of years ago the local council introduced a fortnightly recycling collection service which has really improved locals attitudes towards recycling however it was the end of the Sunday ice creams.