Recyclist

Recyclist is a recycling collection service which operates around the use of bicycle and trailer to collect waste. It is designed for use in heavily built up urban areas where typical recycling services cannot be offered due to a number of constraints.

The trailer would travel around blocks of flats and tenements etc. on a timetabled route, collecting people’s waste. Once the trailer was full its operator would cycle to the nearest recycling facility and empty the bins. they would then return to collect more waste.

The service would be run as a social enterprise, and the collection trailers would be operated by individuals who have been in long term unemployment.

The bicycle trailer was chosen as it is much more maneuverable than a van or truck in narrow streets. It is also a much more environmentally friendly mode of transport. It has low running costs and requires little maintenance. All the materials used in the trailer and bins are either recycled, reused, or widely recyclable.

The trailer as it was for the Gray’s School of Art degree show 2012.

The trailer chassis is mad from box section steel for strength and durability. I chose not to paint or coat the trailer for the degree show, keeping the welding visible, however for the trailer to be put into use it would have to be painted or zinc coated to protect it against corrosion.

The trailer includes mounts for a dynamo unit and a rear light for visibility purposes. The wiring for the dynamo is routed internaly through the framework of the trailer, keeping it out of the way.

The trailer mounts to the rear axle on the non-driveside of the bicycle. This means the mount does not interfere with any gears etc. It is a design that can easily be fitted to a wide range of bikes with no modification. A heim joint is used to allow the trailer to move freely from side to side with some up and down movement.

The waste is contained in bins made from a rolled piece of recycled tyre rubber, supported by two bicycle rims at the top and bottom. The construction of the bins allows the user to twist and squash the bin, crushing its contents and making room for more.

There is a bicycle tyre fitted to the top of the bin to give the user something to grp on to when compacting the waste.

Removable lid.

There is a fold down stand at the rear of the trailer to stabilise the trailer when people are pushing down on the bins.

Door to door recycling waste collection service test.

Comparison image. I was able to compact 11 bottles and 10 small cartons down to the size of 2 milk cartons.

Compacting plastic waste test

This was a test to see how well plastic bottles could be compacted using a paper shredder.

I used roughly the amount of plastic I would use in 2 weeks.

I used a paper shredder to shred the bottles etc.

Shredder mechanism:

They had to be cut with scissors first so I could put through them shredder.

The only parts which could not be shredded were to tops of the bottles.

Some of the plastics shredded better than others. The milk cartons did not break up completely, but the resulting perforation meant the pieces could be rolled up or folded easily.

The shredded waste:

As a result of chopping and shredding the bottles and carton, the amount of space taken up by the waste was greatly reduced. I was able to fit it all into 2 empty milk cartons with space leftover.