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Created: Feb 23, 2008
Updated: Nov 05, 2009
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ZeroLandfill 2009
Three new pilot markets expand the work of ZeroLandfill in partnership with the International Interior Design Association. Toledo OH, Columbus Ohio, and Akron Ohio will join Cleveland Ohio in 2009 with ZeroLandfill projects throughout the year. ZeroLandfill hopes to break the 100 ton mark of materials repurposed by mid-2009. Other markets in consideration for ZeroLandfill for expansion include Central Florida, Central and South Texas, Southern California, and Louisville Kentucky.
BeeDance, the online counterpart to ZeroLandfill inspired by the efficient and collaborative behavior of the honeybee will unveil its pilot platform in the construction industry in 2009.
ZeroLandfill 2008
Three markets completed ZeroLandfill projects that saw nearly 100,000 pounds of expired architectural specification samples diverted from the waste stream and returned to the community as classroom and studio art supplies. Program pilots in Boston, MA and Cincinnati, OH yielded new understanding about waste stream redesign by an affinity group in the community. The Cleveland project completed its third year of beneficial reuse with nearly 32 tons of materials identified and upcycled in the community.
Three markets completed ZeroLandfill projects that saw nearly 100,000 pounds of expired architectural specification samples diverted from the waste stream and returned to the community as classroom and studio art supplies. Program pilots in Boston, MA and Cincinnati, OH yielded new understanding about waste stream redesign by an affinity group in the community. The Cleveland project completed its third year of beneficial reuse with nearly 32 tons of materials identified and upcycled in the community.
A virtual counterpart to ZeroLandfill entered design development. Known as BeeDance, this online web platform will support the work of ZeroLandfill seasonal programs by providing a continuously operating online material exchange as a biomimeitc technology application inspired by the efficient and collaborative behaviors of the honeybee.
ZeroLandfill 2007
ZeroLandfill returned to NE Ohio in May of 2007 with a region-wide call to architects, builders, and interior design firms to identify, collect, and donate unwanted specification samples to the ZeroLandfill project team. Over the course of 5 months, 16 tons of carpet tiles and books, wallcovering samples and books, brick-tile-glazing samples, and booked upholstery samples were collected and sorted for distribution back into the local economy in new and usable forms.
Nearly 750 3-ring binders were collected yielding 4,000 lbs. of paper contents that were diverted from the waste stream via the Abitibi PaperTriever collection program. The binders are in the process of being distributed to local community programs, schools, and faith based organizations. Of the estimated 28,000 lbs. of evaluation samples collected, 95.3% of the items (26,500 lbs) have been documented as being re-purposed to new audiences. Primarily distributed to local practicing artists and local arts educators, roughly 11,000 lbs. of samples have been put into service as teaching supplies, classroom accessories, and stock for new works of art. Numerous artists have allowed access to ZeroLandfill project team members to track and document the creation of new works of art from the donated glass samples, ceramic tiles, upholstery swatches, and carpet books. Slightly more than15,000 lbs of materials have been diverted to local recyclers who will process the remaining items into feedstock for other processes. Less than 1,500 pounds of materials, or approxiamately 4.7% of the total materials handled this year, were deemed unviable by the arts and recycling community and have been disposed of via conventional commercial waste collection methods. These items included vinyl composite tile samples (VCT) and asphalt shingle samples.
Two new project goals were established for ZeroLandfill 2007 : increase the amount of participation by the donors (architects, designers, contractors), and keep 100% of the collected items local to NE Ohio. In the case of the first goal, participation by the specifying community was increased by 50% over 2006. Goal number two has been achieved for all categories except for vinyl wallcovering products, which are being processed out of state (Indiana) by a recycler that specializes in re-purposing this form of material in an environmentally responsible manner.
The overall objective of ZeroLandfill originally brought forward in 2005 and published in 2006 remains intact with the most recent ZeroLandfill effort in 2007 ---> divert unwanted specification samples from the waste stream. Planning is underway for the next chapter of ZeroLandfill as informed by the feedback received from the just concluded project.
Innovations ranging from a more formal and permanent collection and distribution model to an interactive material reservation and inventory system are under consideration with updated funding requirements in development. Collaboration and celebration will remain the hallmark of this grassroots effort.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ZeroLandfill Project Origins
ZeroLandfill 2007
ZeroLandfill returned to NE Ohio in May of 2007 with a region-wide call to architects, builders, and interior design firms to identify, collect, and donate unwanted specification samples to the ZeroLandfill project team. Over the course of 5 months, 16 tons of carpet tiles and books, wallcovering samples and books, brick-tile-glazing samples, and booked upholstery samples were collected and sorted for distribution back into the local economy in new and usable forms.
Nearly 750 3-ring binders were collected yielding 4,000 lbs. of paper contents that were diverted from the waste stream via the Abitibi PaperTriever collection program. The binders are in the process of being distributed to local community programs, schools, and faith based organizations. Of the estimated 28,000 lbs. of evaluation samples collected, 95.3% of the items (26,500 lbs) have been documented as being re-purposed to new audiences. Primarily distributed to local practicing artists and local arts educators, roughly 11,000 lbs. of samples have been put into service as teaching supplies, classroom accessories, and stock for new works of art. Numerous artists have allowed access to ZeroLandfill project team members to track and document the creation of new works of art from the donated glass samples, ceramic tiles, upholstery swatches, and carpet books. Slightly more than15,000 lbs of materials have been diverted to local recyclers who will process the remaining items into feedstock for other processes. Less than 1,500 pounds of materials, or approxiamately 4.7% of the total materials handled this year, were deemed unviable by the arts and recycling community and have been disposed of via conventional commercial waste collection methods. These items included vinyl composite tile samples (VCT) and asphalt shingle samples.
Two new project goals were established for ZeroLandfill 2007 : increase the amount of participation by the donors (architects, designers, contractors), and keep 100% of the collected items local to NE Ohio. In the case of the first goal, participation by the specifying community was increased by 50% over 2006. Goal number two has been achieved for all categories except for vinyl wallcovering products, which are being processed out of state (Indiana) by a recycler that specializes in re-purposing this form of material in an environmentally responsible manner.
The overall objective of ZeroLandfill originally brought forward in 2005 and published in 2006 remains intact with the most recent ZeroLandfill effort in 2007 ---> divert unwanted specification samples from the waste stream. Planning is underway for the next chapter of ZeroLandfill as informed by the feedback received from the just concluded project.
Innovations ranging from a more formal and permanent collection and distribution model to an interactive material reservation and inventory system are under consideration with updated funding requirements in development. Collaboration and celebration will remain the hallmark of this grassroots effort.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ZeroLandfill Project Origins
In 2005, a survey of several area interior design firms in NE Ohio determined that a typical staff library amasses up to 100 pounds of obsolete evaluation samples and numerous three ring binders over the course of 90 days. A solution to this buildup of goods was field tested the following year as 30 architectural and interior design firms (roughly 15% of the total specifier market in NE Ohio) claimed their place in the local sustainability economy by participating in the inaugural ZeroLandfill Celebration held September 1, 2006 in downtown Cleveland. An estimated 6,000 pounds of fiber based materials, 800 pounds of stone based samples, and 400+ three ring binders were collected from the participants.
Local artists were invited to claim items from the collection process and many upholstery samples, brick, glass, and metal pieces, and wallcovering books were diverted and used for new works of art. Over 400 3-ring vinyl binders were collected and donated to local school programs for student and faculty use. Stone, tile, and aggregate items remained a part of the local economy by recycling into Rosby Resource Recovery’s material collection process. Carpet, wallcovering, and upholstery samples were returned to InterfaceFlor Commercial in Atlanta, GA where they were repurposed into new carpet backing or used for waste to energy generation for the production plant. Remaining miscellaneous items (plastics 1-7, bound material, paper) were processed and further diverted from the waste stream through the City of Cleveland’s Recycle! program and Abitibi Consolidated PaperTriever system.
The feedback from the inaugural ZeroLandfill project in 2006 was overwhelmingly positive by all who participated. New methods of identifying, collecting, and diverting post-industrial waste generated through the interior and architectural specification process are being researched and implemented. The ZeroLandfill effort will continue in NE Ohio with a summer long collection and diversion program in 2007 involving over 200 specifiers in the region. Reducing pressure on local landfills while inspiring sustainable business practices in the building design industry remain the essence of the ZeroLandfill project.
Program Contact info :
Local artists were invited to claim items from the collection process and many upholstery samples, brick, glass, and metal pieces, and wallcovering books were diverted and used for new works of art. Over 400 3-ring vinyl binders were collected and donated to local school programs for student and faculty use. Stone, tile, and aggregate items remained a part of the local economy by recycling into Rosby Resource Recovery’s material collection process. Carpet, wallcovering, and upholstery samples were returned to InterfaceFlor Commercial in Atlanta, GA where they were repurposed into new carpet backing or used for waste to energy generation for the production plant. Remaining miscellaneous items (plastics 1-7, bound material, paper) were processed and further diverted from the waste stream through the City of Cleveland’s Recycle! program and Abitibi Consolidated PaperTriever system.
The feedback from the inaugural ZeroLandfill project in 2006 was overwhelmingly positive by all who participated. New methods of identifying, collecting, and diverting post-industrial waste generated through the interior and architectural specification process are being researched and implemented. The ZeroLandfill effort will continue in NE Ohio with a summer long collection and diversion program in 2007 involving over 200 specifiers in the region. Reducing pressure on local landfills while inspiring sustainable business practices in the building design industry remain the essence of the ZeroLandfill project.
Program Contact info :
David Fox, ZeroLandfill dfox@kent.edu
Mike Thomas, BeeDance mike.thomas@beedance.com
Michael Dungan, BeeDance mike.dungan@beedance.com
