Two heads...

Sort of a meeting of minds.

And when they click, synergy is always good.

Yesterday I was pleased and honoured to play host at Junkk Towers to Anne of like-minded 'doing' site Makeitandmendit.com.

She had come to 'kick our tyres' so to speak, but in the course of a few very enjoyable hours we also explored some interesting areas of opportunity and mutual benefit.

Just how I like it.

Know that 'incentive' mantra I keep chanting?

Bottle Bank Arcade

Kudos to thefuntheory.com

Again.











Here are my entries as inspired by this:

www.thefuntheory.com/2009/12/03/reramid-chops
www.thefuntheory.com/2009/12/03/pepcycle
www.thefuntheory.com/2009/12/03/cullet-gullet-mill
www.thefuntheory.com/2009/12/03/madame-la-relotine
www.rolighetsteorin.se/2009/12/03/archies-magic-reounderbutt-augurs-well
(No idea why this last one seems to be a different URL)

Took a loooong while as I had upload issues and the system couldn't cope with my 'suite'* idea, but the organisers were very helpful.

Doubt they'll be in with much of a chance now as the competition closes soon, but at least they are now in.

*One to freak out the health and safety guys, but here goes.

It has always frustrated me that many public recycling facilities involve a dirty great (heavy) steel container that requires a big-engined, high-powered truck to haul away often only a few kilos of 95% fresh air surrounding a veneer of card, glass or metal.

They are also often smelly, and boring. And no one crushes waste bottles, cans, etc because they are already confused by a plethora of do’s and don’ts regarding what’s cool and/or not.

But one thing is clear: we need to get stuff as small in volume as possible to make the most of the logistics’ systems carbon footprint. This also tends to help with recycling anyway.

Then we need to make it so people a) want to do it so they try, and try again, and b) enjoy it so much they do it again and tell their mates. So… pretty much fun, then.

Any other advantages that roll along as a consequence we’ll take as plusses. On balance, win-win-win-win-etc

Hence…

RE:Gymberation RE:Spa Planet Fitness

We need venues. And where better than supermarket foyers or shopping centres, which would confer green kudos to savvy CSR marketers who can sweeten the extra traffic likely to be attracted by offering reward opportunities to those bring in the correct materials? Possibly consumers get to hand in waste in exchange for Junkk bonds to use on… eco purchases.

RE:Gymberation posits a ‘zone’, where by human energy is harnessed in the cause of greater fitness and… reducing recyclate volumes for transport.

All the shredding, smashing and/or flattening is done by one human power on a series of exercise devices that serve to not only dispose of waster materials, but in an entertaining manner.

Some could indeed be prone to misuse or vandalism – so possible solutions are sensors to divert metals or, more practically, human oversight, hence being located near staff, which also supports reward redemption. A few complementary freestanding systems are suggested, specific to particular recyclates.

What was weird is one submission included that had to be dropped (pix above), which had to be dropped:

The Whack a Can Pan – For Cans Or Cartons

INGREDIENTS

Based, almost identically, on either a fairground mallet and bell concept, or the ‘Whack-a-Mole’.

CONCEPT

The can or carton is introduced to be crushed by a wide head mallet, with the flattened result dropped into the receptacle below.

Here's why

How spooky is that? Annoyingly, it's a top 10 idea. He who hesitates - or has a less than compatible browser... is lost.

Play it forward

Hope I got that right.

Not sure if I will be able/have the time to blog over the next few days, so as I head out into the still dark morning (and a series of rush hour nightmares) I share this:

The best shop in London

Here's to those who do, and do so in the best of ways, with the best of intentions.

Next stop... Ally Pally, London!

Do come and visit.

Walk walk vs. talk talk

With all due apologies to Winston Churchill for the paraphrase.

I tend now to avoid getting into much about climate change (or whatever its incarnation du jour is), much less the man-made aspect.

It seems pretty clear that some odd things are going on, and mostly not good. As I am not so keen on bans, while I do see merit in sensible reductions, mitigations, etc, and ways to effect these.

But I am also a fan of pragmatism, so while there are many (in fact I'd say too many) who still seem to enjoy rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic whilst discussing the number of angels who can dance atop the head of a pin, I tend to get more exciting by things to do. Especially by way of contingencies should what is predicted by many take place.

Hence I, and possibly you dear reader, might find this report from the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, commissioned by Ch4, a worthy, if sobering read. Of course, as with all things, the spectre of 'The Two E's' is again a major elephant in the room.

Why not over here?

This from a regional Irish Newspaper, the Guardian, highlights just what a government committed to actually doing something (rather than just talking about doing it) can achieve.

"The homeowner will pre-pay €100 towards the cost of this assessment, with Sustainable Energy Ireland subsidising the balance. Approximately two thirds of the cost of this assessment, will therefore, will be covered by the Government. The assessor may advise that the house requires such work as attic insulation, interior or exterior wall insulation, low emissions double-glazing, heating control or a range of other energy efficient works. Grants will then cover up to 30% of the cost of these works, to a maximum of €2,500. On completion of the works a follow-up energy assessment on the building will be undertaken so that there is a 'before and after' test of what has been done."

Simple, assessable, checkable and measurable benefits!

So, the big question is, why have our own Gov's schemes been such a total dog's breakfast, to the point where the majority have now been passed into the hands of the big utility companies? Is it simply that, for our lot, 'talking about doing' is just that much easier then 'doing'?