TerraCycle Turns Computer Parts into Flower Pots (Video)
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California 
on 01. 8.09
Image via TerraCycle
TerraCycle's Urban Pots are made from 100% e-waste. Using items like crushed computers and fax machines that would otherwise be destined for landfills, the organization gives them new life as a planter.
Read on for a video on how the pots are made.
TerraCycle is known for making waste products into mainstream consumer products, and supplies for those of us with green thumbs. Their latest addition is this line of pots.
The pots are made from e-waste and painted by urban artists. From an interview on GreenBiz.com, TerraCycle founder Tom Szaky says:
What's interesting about e-waste is that it's like 30 different polymers together. And typically, recycling centers have trouble recycling a bunch of different polymers...[W]e created a method where we could take used -- or all sorts of mixed polymers and make it into a finished product. And that first started by us launching a pot...and we created the graffiti pot where all these inner city artists painted these plastic pots made from crushed computers, and that became the TerraCycle Urban Art Pot.
While there is still more that could be greened up about the products and processes used to make them (as there usually is with any green product) we're giving them an A for effort and for the beautiful pots.
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I guess it's a step in the right direction...
Yeah, A for effort and C- for creating a so called green product. They're making a lot of toxic fumes from the spray paint and I also wonder if the potting soil will pick up toxins from the paint and/or the polymers of the e-waste. I really like TerraCycle's concept, but looks like a case of one step forward two steps back when it comes to creating a truly green product.
Not sure what I think of the flowerpots, but I am very impressed and excited that someone has FINALLY begun doing something with mixed polymers. In most of the world, only PET and HDPE (categories 1 and 2) are recycled, the rest is discarded due to weak demand (I would love it if someone could tell me I am mistaken on this).
I wonder if Tom Szaky or Jaymi Heimbuch could write an article explaining why this is, and why Terracycle is managing to do what so many others said was not practical.
Plant pots made out of plastic WILL be manufactured. On the face of it pot manufacture using recycled plastic may be more "green" overall, than those made from virgin material, but not enough information is given to make that determination. What remains to be seen if these products can be competitive in the market place. Most likely this is a full step forward, until it's proven otherwise. Terracycle would be wise to give the artist some pots and turn them loose in the color and graphic selection. Even grandma is the Midwest may be getting tired of the ordinary plain stuff.
Yoshhash - I can't speak for the rest of the world but I can tell you Palm Beach County in FL recycles plastic #1-7. Oddly they do not yet recycle steel cans... Contrast that with NYC, where they recycle just about everything metal, but only plastics 1 & 2.
In burlington VT they recycle # 1-7
Terracycle is great
Using mixed polymers is a key need, and something few companies do (#7 plastics, rare, may be mixed polymers). Nationally, few recycling programs accept more than #1 and #2 - and often that is limited to only bottles (not things like yogurt cups, etc). When these materials are processed, they are typically sorted at MRF's - not combined into a single polymer. This is an intensive process, using both manual labor and expensive, fancy, energy-using machinery.
The video states that they use low VOC paints. Why not contact Terracycle and ask that they convert to zero VOC paints and share some suggestions for sources? Given their mission, they should welcome the input.
Makes me wonder...how many computer companies are using recycled plastic for their shells? A computer that is just going to sit on a desk, free from the elements and travel wear and tear, could easily be made of mixed, recycled plastics.