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A free trip
- This topic has 17 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 2 years ago by
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Video I made about a free trip. Went to agbogbloshie in Ghana. Wanted to have a look where our old electronics end up. Fascinating place. Below you can discuss, post your thoughts or ask questions!
I have really liked this video. As usual very inspiring. 🙂 Did you try to “work” with those local people and maybe give them some advice in terms of recycling materials? Looking forward to see your new video!
Happy to hear that! Mostly went there for researching. Talk with locals, observe what’s going on and explore tools and materials for Precious plastic But would love to go back, install a set of plastic machines and look at other waste streams
Yeah it would be fascinating to see what they create with a few plastic machines.
I’ve heard there are similar communities like that in some Indian slum areas, where the whole economy of the slum is this interdependent mix of different recycling operations, everyone specialising in recycling one particular component..
Yep its amazing what is sometimes happening in these places. They haven’t got the tools like we do but are able to set up incredibly things.
Dave we want to set up your rig there, or a couple of them- and test it out. I am interested in a number of things: 1. how does the rig hold up under field conditions. 2. How do people use it? 3. how easy is it to fix under field conditions. 4. Do people find value for the plastics- meaning can this spread to other places to clean up beaches and such.
All I have to do is get a funder and a plan… but thats what we do here in mdp, so it may work out!
Awesome!
1: Totally depends on the situation, and we haven’t tested every condition. (for instance never in a very humid area. But in the end We build them to work on most areas. I’s a matter of fine-tuning.
2: Like in this video
3: The new version (which will be ready soon) is made with as much universal materials which you can find all over the world. So you can easily find spare-material to build/repair them.
4: ALso for the new version e are working more in this area, find valuable outcomes and solution to create. Currently souvenirs would be a reasonable one. Good luck and keep us posted on it!
Dave do you know these guys? I have a connection here. If you want local makers in Ghana- this is the place!
I am Really impressed with the decision about “where to go?” I never heard about that place, now it has my attention and I’ll be looking forward if you have some search of volunteers. I’m in!
Congratz! You have awesome ideas!
@krmemo You can help plenty by just being on this forum, engaging. We need people with drive on here, to get things going!
I saw the video and in the begining it was kinda depressing but that changed when it show the ‘bright’ side of the landfill. All the people working and recycling all the materials. Then I saw the bit with the children with the cables and it struck me. I know a way to recycle the plastic on those cables and remove it at the same time in a simple way.
Now I don’t know if this is the correct topic to post this and I also posted the orginal idea source of this in another topic.
I saw a few videos on Youtube explaining a way of turning plastic into oil again. Not crude oil but it still burns.
Japanese invented machine
Video explaining the japanse machine
A homemade one
And one made by students in India
As you can see there a multiple videos on the subject so there must be a core truth to this. After a bit of research I think I know what is going on.
The idea is that you put the plastic into and airtight container. Something like a pressure cooker as shown in the Indian student video. U put the plastic stuff in the pressure cooker and heat it. The Indian students use gas but I think that wood would also do the trick. Then in the top you drill a hole where the steam can come out which is then cooled by water. It’s a bit like making moonshine.
Using this method they have not one but 2 resources they can sell or use. The copper and the oil. The oil can be used to as fuel for a stove or something else. I think that if you refine it a bit more you could probably power an engine with it.
So Dave and Thomas? What do you think? Maybe we could try together to make one of these machines?
Sounds like a cool idea! Perhaps move this conversation somewhere in the Precious Plastic forum?
Don t know what to say……i just find this amazing, MUCH RESPECT FOR U GUYS……would love to help in some way….this is the first thing it makes sense in many years.
This is an awesome video and enlightening. This is what I have been looking for for my year off work. This Feb. I will be flying from the US and over to Europe, Africa, and Asia to do my part for civilization. This would most likely be the first or second stop for me. I will take the knowledge gained from Precious Plastics and other sources and apply it to places like this. Dave made other videos of places similar to this that is on my list to travel to to help in some way.
Since I have not done this before, is there any helpful tips to provide to me before I embark on this endeavor?
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