Difference between revisions of "Recycling"

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*Bottles from [[glass]].
 
*Bottles from [[glass]].
 
*Boxes from plastics (e.g. [[polyethylene]]).
 
*Boxes from plastics (e.g. [[polyethylene]]).
*Tins from [[stainless steel]].
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*Tins from stainless [[steel]].
 
*[[insulation|Insulating]] [[foam]] from melted [[regolith]].
 
*[[insulation|Insulating]] [[foam]] from melted [[regolith]].
 
*Insulating foil, e.g. from polyethylene.
 
*Insulating foil, e.g. from polyethylene.
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==Things made from a material composition==
 
==Things made from a material composition==
 
The following things need more than one material, but the materials can be separated easily for recycling:
 
The following things need more than one material, but the materials can be separated easily for recycling:
*[[Electric cable]] from [[metal]] and plastics (e.g. polyethylene).
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*[[Electric cable]] from [[:category:metal|metal]] and plastics (e.g. polyethylene).
 
*Insulating mat from mineral fibre and plastics casing (e.g. polyethylene).
 
*Insulating mat from mineral fibre and plastics casing (e.g. polyethylene).
 
*Laminated safety glass.
 
*Laminated safety glass.

Revision as of 12:50, 17 December 2008

A colony on Mars uses a number of materials to build everything they need for living. Mining is one way to acquire new materials - and a pretty laborious one.

A lot easier is the Recycling of litter, especially if the litter consists of only a few materials, and most easy if the pieces of litter are made from single material. The concept requires special manufacturing, that takes care to use pure single material if possible.

Things made from single material

Things made from a material composition

The following things need more than one material, but the materials can be separated easily for recycling:

  • Electric cable from metal and plastics (e.g. polyethylene).
  • Insulating mat from mineral fibre 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. Using free market it is easy to determine whether it costs more to mine material or to recycle it. Recycling will probably be a lot cheaper than mining.

List of Materials

This list comprises recyclable materials, that are really needed by an autonomous colony:

See also