In the past day I came across two clever ways to make use of one of our most common trash items: the plastic beverage bottle. The EPA says Americans generated 31 million tons of plastic waste in 2010, only 8 percent of which was recovered for recycling (a sad statistic), so there’s no lack of fodder for inventive people who want to find ways to put plastic bottles back to work. Here you see (POP)culture, a canopy designed by students from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Architecture and featured on The Blog Aquatic by David Connell. Connell lauded it as “a beautiful example of…making trash too valuable to toss.” Elsewhere, Shea Gunther on Mother Nature Network profiled five low-tech innovations that are making a difference in the lives of people in the developing world, including an incredibly simple and inventive plastic bottle light.
Thanks do much for the pick up guys, we really appreciate it! Of course it’s a small world — I used to work for ASLA and Shea Gunther is one of those close online only friends I’ve developed over the years — ever since the days if Digg. Great post and thanks as always for the great work you all do.
Thanks so much for the shout out, guys and the link! I love the new look of LAM. Very cool. It’s funny, because I also know Shea — mentioned here — very well too. It’s a small world! Keep up the great work making the world a more beautiful and sustainable place!