Ask Ubuntoo

Hi Viswa, thanks for your question! Here are a few solutions that might be useful to explore: https://ubuntoo.com/solutions/xaper-1 and https://ubuntoo.com/solutions/inora?gh=

Hi Dion Mataira,

There is unfortunately still no effective way of recycling rubber bands in the traditional way. Indeed, a key solution is to reduce/minimize the use, and once produced and used: reuse them for as long as possible for various purposes.

In the UK, users now have the option to donate their rubber bands via their post boxes for recycling/ repurposing (I haven't heard yet about the efficiency of this, but if well implemented it seems a good system). Australia (Australia Post) have also recently mentioned the interest of doing the same. It could be good to reach out, and know more about their intention/plan about that.

If you also contact local councils, they will be able to tell you if there are recycling facilities around that do collect and recycle them. Having a good collection system in place, is the first needed step to enable the feasibility of repurposing this material at scale.

You can also contact tire recyclers. For example, Mr Trevor Bayley from Green Distillation Technologies (based in Toorak) mentioned that their "process can successfully recycle almost any rubber products. The issue becomes one of materials handling and economics. At this point, rubber bands are not high on the priority list, but as being alerted to the potential issue, he will ask his team to have a quick look and see if they can incorporate them into their tyre process". 

Interesting products can be made out of rubber waste (the key material being used tires) and opportunities to integrate rubber bands should be explored. Sharing this example from the UK: SpaceMat, made by Space Blue Limited who came up with a solution to recycle rubber waste and transform it to make floor mats.

Several sources (see Treehugger, Alliance Rubber company as an example) are also listing reusable options (at consumer level). I also like these inspirations from artists Margarita Mileva and Rie Sakamoto.

Best regards,
Isabelle

hi Nick Regnault . There are many possibilities on upcyling of such waste streams. Have a look at this search. We also did a newsletter on the topic a while back. Not sure how many of those solutions are available in NZ though, but these links might give you good inspiration and connections. Peter

Kamalpreet Kaur, PhD are you interested in preventing food waste or upcycling it? Regardless, we have many relevant solutions!

https://ubuntoo.com/solutions/whywaste-2?gh=

https://ubuntoo.com/solutions/wastemaster-1?gh=

https://ubuntoo.com/solutions/biomaster-1?gh=

hi Cicely Abdy Collins ,

Have a look also at this newsletter about reusable food service solutions: https://ubuntoo.com/blogs/reusable-foodservice-solutions..

Another interesting reference is this packaging scorecard for food service, recently developed by a number of organizations: https://ubuntoo.com/blogs/the-understanding-packaging-up-scorecard

Hope this helps,

Peter

Soilcapital.com