Over one year ago we wrote a post, Proof of Concept (https://www.wasteforlife.org/2017/09/28/proof-of-concept/), detailing the replacement of an asbestos toilet block roof with our prototype composite roof made from waste HDPE plastic reinforced with rice husks and...
Paul Burnham (http://www.paulburnham.com.au/) arrived in Colombo yesterday and heads up to Jaffna tomorrow to work with Ashok and Reddy on our asbestos-replacement roof project. Chern NG, our in-house Perth architect, designed the corrugated roof that Ashok and Reddy...
During our first visit to Sri Lanka in Spring 2015, we spent most of our time in and out of manufacturing facilities, traveling back and forth between our partner university campuses in Colombo and Jaffna, and in meetings to consolidate relationships with and between...
Many months ago we alluded to an upcoming project in Sri Lanka. At the time, we thought we would be partnering with Dilmah Conservation, the human and environmental services arm of Dilmah Tea Company, http://www.dilmahconservation.org/. We had been speaking with...
Back in Buenos Aires, and it’s summer time so everything moves at half-speed. The heat has eased up over the last few days and that has made it more comfortable to move around. Still, whatever the weather, the cartoneros are present, winding their way through...
Three and one-half years after setting this process in motion, documents are signed to release funds to build the first production hotpress in Buenos Aires. The Cooperativa de Trabajo 19 de deciembre will build the press and deliver it to the Cooperativa Neuva Mente...
Much as it’s thrilling to execute on a well-laid plan, sometimes the things you don’t plan for – and couldn’t have planned for if you tried in a million years! – are the most fun and satisfying of all. Case in point: Our discovery of...
It’s been almost exactly three years since we visited the recovered metallurgic factory, Cooperativa de Trabajo ’19 de diciembre’, and spoke with Enrique Iriarte about a possible niche side business: manufacturing hotpresses for the recycling...
Yesterday we secured a key piece of technology – a ‘selladora’ (pronounced SESH-a-DOR-ah) or heat sealer, which will allow us to make the cardholders developed by the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) locally. We originally wanted to find a...
Despite the clear degradation of the streets since we were last here, this city feels like home to us. We are now welcomed with open arms. We are not even laughed at any more. It is known, accepted, and expected that we would be here. Even though we have been away for...
