Difference between revisions of "Recycling"
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The term recycling commonly applies to recycling goods and consumer items. For the large scale recycling of water and air, see [[Water Infrastructure|Water infrastructure]] and [[Life support]] articles. | The term recycling commonly applies to recycling goods and consumer items. For the large scale recycling of water and air, see [[Water Infrastructure|Water infrastructure]] and [[Life support]] articles. | ||
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| + | Recycling is the third of the three R of waste reduction : Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. | ||
A [[colony]] on [[Mars]] uses a number of materials to build everything they need for living. [[Mining]] or [[In-situ resource utilization|ISRU]] in the main way of adding materials to the settlement. Importation from Earth or other planets is another. | A [[colony]] on [[Mars]] uses a number of materials to build everything they need for living. [[Mining]] or [[In-situ resource utilization|ISRU]] in the main way of adding materials to the settlement. Importation from Earth or other planets is another. | ||
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To reduce the need for [[production]] or importation of materials, '''Recycling''' can be used. Especially if the litter consists of only elements including just a few materials, and most easily if the pieces of litter are made from a single material. The concept requires special manufacturing that takes care to use pure single material if possible, or allows for easy disassembly. | To reduce the need for [[production]] or importation of materials, '''Recycling''' can be used. Especially if the litter consists of only elements including just a few materials, and most easily if the pieces of litter are made from a single material. The concept requires special manufacturing that takes care to use pure single material if possible, or allows for easy disassembly. | ||
| − | == | + | ==Products made from single materials== |
*Bottles from [[glass]]. | *Bottles from [[glass]]. | ||
*Boxes from plastics (e.g. [[polyethylene]]). | *Boxes from plastics (e.g. [[polyethylene]]). | ||
| − | * | + | *Cans from aluminum. |
| − | *[[insulation|Insulating]] [[foam]] from melted and expanded [[regolith]] | + | *[[insulation|Insulating]] [[foam]] from melted and expanded [[regolith]] or plastics. |
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| − | == | + | ==Products made from multiple materials== |
| − | The following | + | The following products need more than one material, but the materials can be separated easily for recycling. Alternatively, some may be re-used directly. |
*[[Electric cable]] from [[:category:metal|metal]] and plastics (e.g. polyethylene). | *[[Electric cable]] from [[:category:metal|metal]] and plastics (e.g. polyethylene). | ||
| − | *Insulating mat from mineral | + | *Insulating mat from mineral fiber and plastics casing (e.g. polyethylene). |
*Laminated safety glass. | *Laminated safety glass. | ||
==Economics of Recycling== | ==Economics of Recycling== | ||
| − | As the colony grows in size and population, the economics of the colony starts. | + | As the colony grows in size and population, the economics of the colony starts. The free market will determine whether it costs more to extract new material or recycle the existing materials in products. Recycling will be cheaper than mining in many cases. This is already obvious on Earth, where plastics, lead, aluminum and steel have higher and higher recycled content as the recycling systems develop. |
| − | ==List of | + | ==List of recyclable materials== |
| − | This list comprises recyclable materials, that are really needed by an [[autonomous colony]] | + | This list comprises recyclable materials, that are really needed by an [[autonomous colony]]. |
| − | *[[Steel]] for [[digging machine]]s, pipes, [[building]]s. | + | *[[Concrete]] for buildings. |
| − | *[[Synthetic materials|Plastics]] for [[greenhouse]]s, [[space suit]]s. | + | *[[Steel]] - for [[digging machine]]s, pipes, equipment, structures, [[building]]s and infrastructure. |
| + | *[[Synthetic materials|Plastics]] - for [[greenhouse]]s, [[space suit]]s. | ||
*[[Glass]] for [[window]]s. | *[[Glass]] for [[window]]s. | ||
| − | * | + | * |
*[[Silicon]] for [[solar panel]]s. | *[[Silicon]] for [[solar panel]]s. | ||
*[[Mineral fibrous insulating material]] for [[insulation of buildings]]. | *[[Mineral fibrous insulating material]] for [[insulation of buildings]]. | ||
Revision as of 08:00, 19 January 2021
The term recycling commonly applies to recycling goods and consumer items. For the large scale recycling of water and air, see Water infrastructure and Life support articles.
Recycling is the third of the three R of waste reduction : Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
A colony on Mars uses a number of materials to build everything they need for living. Mining or ISRU in the main way of adding materials to the settlement. Importation from Earth or other planets is another.
To reduce the need for production or importation of materials, Recycling can be used. Especially if the litter consists of only elements including just a few materials, and most easily if the pieces of litter are made from a single material. The concept requires special manufacturing that takes care to use pure single material if possible, or allows for easy disassembly.
Contents
Products made from single materials
- Bottles from glass.
- Boxes from plastics (e.g. polyethylene).
- Cans from aluminum.
- Insulating foam from melted and expanded regolith or plastics.
Products made from multiple materials
The following products need more than one material, but the materials can be separated easily for recycling. Alternatively, some may be re-used directly.
- Electric cable from metal and plastics (e.g. polyethylene).
- Insulating mat from mineral fiber and plastics casing (e.g. polyethylene).
- Laminated safety glass.
Economics of Recycling
As the colony grows in size and population, the economics of the colony starts. The free market will determine whether it costs more to extract new material or recycle the existing materials in products. Recycling will be cheaper than mining in many cases. This is already obvious on Earth, where plastics, lead, aluminum and steel have higher and higher recycled content as the recycling systems develop.
List of recyclable materials
This list comprises recyclable materials, that are really needed by an autonomous colony.
- Concrete for buildings.
- Steel - for digging machines, pipes, equipment, structures, buildings and infrastructure.
- Plastics - for greenhouses, space suits.
- Glass for windows.
- Silicon for solar panels.
- Mineral fibrous insulating material for insulation of buildings.
- Light metals, such as Aluminum and Lithium.
- Steel additives such as chromium and nickel.
