Recycled ink cartridges used to build bike path in Australian National Park
By Darren Murph 
posted June 13th 2010 5:08AM
posted June 13th 2010 5:08AM
[Image courtesy of Centralian Advocate]
posted June 13th 2010 5:08AM
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We need more waste solutions like this.
@wemustcontrolpeople
I don't think the kangaroos will be happy to see this...
@wemustcontrolpeople
Yeah we need to lay out more plastic as paths! there never can be to much plastic in nature! It's the eco way!
But seriously a environment friendly path should be out of stone-slabs or something other from nature itself. Recycling doesn't mean 'Dumping it in Nature to serve a purpose' - that is pollution.
@Element115
well plastic does come from nature, though we do refract oil which may alter it's behaviour in nature. But would you rather it went to landfill? I'm guessing that these cartridges would have done otherwise. Unless someone's out there saying "where did all those cartridges go, I needed them!"
@Element115
well plastic does come from oil though refracting it may or may not alter it's behaviour in nature. But would you rather they went to landfill? I'm guessing they may have otherwise unless there's someone out there saying "where did those cartridges go, I needed
them!"
@Unverified User
engadget, this needs to update a little faster
@GarfieldIam
Yes plastic does come from oil and therefore it is a product of nature. So is every kind of reorganization of produces from nature not pollution but OK? Would you say the oilspill in the Gulf is OK to because its product of nature?
I don't see the difference between dumping the plastic in one spot (landfill) or in a long line (path)...
My problem is, that they claim what they do is something ecological. A pathway from recycled plastic may save trees which they would have used otherwise, but its not very nationalparkie. Why put artificial products everywhere, should't at least a national park be free of those things. Like I said, stone slabs, gravel or something from the park itself would have provided a more natural feel.
@GarfieldIam
I think I have figured out why they made it out of plastic. It provides a smother bicycling experience. If they would make the path out of gravel about 70% of Australian nationals could not access it because it would be to tiresome due to obesity and that would't make much of 'National Park'...
@Element115
The oil spill is polluting the sea, choking millions of (non human) lives and destroying lots if businesses. This is quite different to a plastic path. The rest of your post is sensible but please try and keep things in perspective.
@GarfieldIam
You would need to look at how long it lasted, maintenance cost, how it altered water movement, how the material broke down Under light/water/usage. What happens in a bush fire. Then you can assess if it more or less sound than gravel or rock, which also have their own footprint, extraction, processing, shipping, ground works, effect on environment, on going cost.
Out here you would also need to consider where the rock/gravel might come from. There could be issues about relocating those materials culturally.
Since the ink cartridges have already borne part of the cost they may work out okay being used again. Fire and particalisation of the material would be my biggest Eco concerns.
I live where said path is..
@Element115
So agree with you. Plastics should stay in the cities and even at that only used inside.
@Cy Starkman
Totally agree about the fire implications. Surely they wouldn't have done this without considering all the implications first. It's not totally made from cartridges. Will it actually burn and fragment in a fire, or would it melt without adding any more toxicity to the smoke?Just food for thought.
@GarfieldIam
I'd think it would melt into a burning river of doom in a bush fire, arson attempts probably minimal. Plastic tends to release nasty fumes when it burns, like tyre rubber which is quite safe (even leeching) until it burns.
Not sure but I imagine it will break down and particlize over time with sun, water and use. Then it might bioaccumulate in the food chain. Could be a choking hazzard for smaller animals.
@Element115
This is a great solution.
- It keeps the path constant limiting the traffic's impact on the surrounding wildlife.
- It reuses a product already in existence as opposed to using a natural material that would have to be mined from elsewhere.
- It makes the area extremely accessible for all people, which allows more people to enjoy such beautiful places, encouraging a greater need to protect them.
People want to talk crap about artificial paths all the time because were "plowing over nature and laying down materials", but every ecologist will tell you that having a stationary path like this greatly reduces the tourist's impact on that area. They've been using composite trails in Yellowstone for years with great success. And if we can make them out of what was once going to be landfill material for the next few thousand years then all the better.
@wemustcontrolpeople
Or why can't they resell the cartridges with more ink?
@GarfieldIam
Cool! As long as they dont manufacture more plastics w/ subsequent recycling in mind. The idea should be to move away from plastics while recycling those already in use.
@Element115 Now that I think about it, this solution is probably not the best because of wildfires and photo-biodegradation. The best solution to our environmental problems is to stop screwing like jack-rabbits. Seriously? Is 6.8 billion people enough? Are we better off now than when we had 3.8 billion people? Before someone ask, yes I support government regulated population control of the birth rate. Not because I'm misanthropic, but because I would prefer to see the healthy continuation of humanity and the rest of nature. If the people that used all of these ink cartridges weren't born, then we would have less to worry about recycling. Overpopulation and overconsumption are the elephants in the room when discussing environmental issues.
@wemustcontrolpeople I would think that making them bigger and refillable would be even more eco-friendly.
The problem is that these printer manufacturers figured out its more profitable to basically give away printers, and just charge out the kazoo for ink.
@wemustcontrolpeople
Easy there, man. Lifestyles have more to do w/ it than anything else. The planet can definitely support 7+ billion but not w/ the current consumerism, political and economic paradigms (food as bargaining tool, resource distribution politics, wanton, unchecked capitalism, etc.).
The theme is usually that some have a right to exist while others dont. I wonder, though, how many of those who really 'care' are willing to forgo procreation or make the ultimate gesture (suicide) in the interest of planet earth.
Dont misread me; this is not an attack or judgment of any kind. Its just that, being the weak, partial and fallible humans that we are, government-sanctioned population control is guaranteed to get ugly. At the top planning or administrative level will almost certainly be the UN. Factor in its Sec Council members (and their historical dirt, where this is concerned), and in the end, we'll be left w/ genocide - eugenics legalized.
BTW, China experimented w/ it and they're now finding out that it'll come back to haunt them in the near future. While I dont have an answer - although I'm trying to do what I think is right - I know how some things will end. You see, we (the so-called policy makers) usually dont have the balls to speak plainly. We would rather use obscure terms for obscure-sounding policies, but in the last analysis what we mean is that the 'developing world' and 'third world' will have to die so that we can live. I think this is how it should always be stated... if we're gonna talk about it.
OR... we can radically change our behavior (thoughts, lifestyles, consumption, etc.).
@GarfieldIam I am sorry that u misinterpreted the hyperbole as a factual comparison. I tried to convey to you that saying "but it's from nature" is not an argument.
@littlejoe Look it all probably comes down where you stand philosophically.
I once had a guided tour through a State Park in Texas. I brought along lemon slices for refreshment, when I was done with one I tried to throw it away but the guide stopped me. I wondered what the big deal was, it was fruit that’s gonna rot anyway. But he told me that it was not indigenous and was brought in from the outside and they are trying to keep external impact to a minimum. That made a huge impression on me!
My father works in the plastic recycling industry and I can tell u that there are so many additives and softeners in this stuff that is almost criminal to bring it to a national park. Just because u don’t see it decay it doesn’t mean it don’t.
Don’t get me wrong, I'm for recycling and your points are valid, but a National Park is something almost sacrilegious to me.
@wemustcontrolpeople I think you are right. Our impact on this planet is to big already. We just cant control ourself with any kind of consumerism, be it food or anything else. Only solution would be less people. But Nature is a self regulating system. We will screw up so bad (already in progress) that there will be fewer of us at some point, i guess....
If HP cartridges were used, then it would have just been cheaper to make the path out of solid gold.
@Professor Hubert J Farnsworth
No, Diamondillium would be a better solution!
@sphbking
Guys...unobtanium or course!
@Professor Hubert J Farnsworth
HP... Don't talk to me about HP! Try Epson.
@Professor Hubert J Farnsworth This couldn't have been cheap anyways. Staples pay like $3 per cartridge, and this must have used millions of them. It literally might have been cheaper to make it from solid silver!
@engadgetcomexcludeengadget
The Staples $3 ink cartridge program changes at the end of the month. It goes down to $2 per cartridge instead now. Just an FYI :)
Next, HP will say this is why they force people to get new cartridge every month. "It's for the environment!"
I will enjoy watching this new plastic path melt under the hot sun of Australia.
Carrrnnnnn Ozzieess!!!!
Hopefully there's a staples nearby… staples rewards here I come!
@DTJ we can go 60/40, because I saw it first.
I love stories like these!
Check it out
"Addicted to Plastic"
Watch it here - http://www.documentary-log.com/you-are-watching-addicted-to-plastic/
I think it's a bad idea. in 20 years, the plastic will degrade from the heat and photodegrade, and warp out of shape, get thrown out, and end up in a landfill. Bits will fall of, wear away in dust storms, chip off, and stay in the environment.
Eventually it'll be more plastic dust which gets picked up by the wind and makes it's way to the oceans.
Brings new meaning to "Golden Brick Road".
Is that biker wearing boots?
Guess that's how they roll down under...
Crikey! Them some crafty convicts down unda.