Yes / Steel is a highly versatile and 100% recyclable material but is also carbon and energy intensive in production. Steel framed structures are inherently adaptable and potentially demountable. Reuse instead of the common practice of recycling steel by melting, makes good environmental sense, saving both on resources and carbon emissions. Reuse is commercially and technically viable, as demonstrated by isolated projects. Although steel reuse has been identified as an effective method to reduce the carbon and energy impact of construction, it is in effect only marginally used in practice. We found that although there is a sufficient spread between the price of steel scrap and new steel, this difference cannot be captured by the demolition contractors. In steel multi-storey high-rise building structures, composite construction is the most efficient and economic forms of construction. Composite beams incorporate composite floors with profiled steel sheeting are the most common structural system used in multi-storey high-rise buildings and is seen as one of the most important ways of expanding the use of steel buildings in Europe, i.e. increasing market share. However, in terms of reuse, current composite construction systems require extensive cutting on-site during the demolition process making reuse not viable. This paper presents an innovative composite system that is designed for deconstruction and reuse, its structural behaviour and failure modes were observed and analysed through a series of experimental studies and numerical simulation. The results showed that the structural behaviour of this new form of composite system not only allows for deconstruction and reuse, it has a similar structural performance to the traditional composite system with welded shear connectors.

Rapportens syfte är att undersöka de hinder som textilföretag möter på när de bestämmer sig för att integrera upcycling i sin affärsmodell, därför är frågan som studien syftar att svara på “Vilka hinder finns det för företag som vill bedriva upcycle verksamhet?” . Wilson (2016) förklarar upcycle som en omformning av något utan värde till något användbart utan användning av nya råvaror, denna process är en praktisk lösning för att minska produktionen av textilavfall och reducera användning av nya material. För att svara på frågeställningen har data samlats in genom en kvalitativ metod, intervjuer genomfördes med företag involverade i upcycling. Medverkande företag i studien är, Nudie Jeans, Korallen, XV Produktion och Science park Borås. Resultaten visade på att kvalité och material var två viktiga aspekter att ha i åtanke när företag vill börja med upcycling eftersom det främst underlättar designernas arbete vid planering av omdesign. / The purpose of the report is to examine the obstacles that textile companies face when they decide to incorporate upcycling into their business model, therefore the question that the study aims to answer is "What obstacles are there for companies that want to conduct upcycle activities?" . Wilson (2016) explains upcycle as a transformation of something without value into something useful without using new raw materials, this process is a practical solution to reduce the production of textile waste and reduce the use of new materials. To answer the question data has been collected through a qualitative method, interviews were conducted with companies involved in upcycling. The companies involved in the study are, Nudie Jeans, Korallen, XV Produktion and Science park Borås. The results showed that quality and materials were two important aspects to keep in mind when companies want to start upcycling as it mainly facilitates the designers' work when planning redesign.

Yes / Reverse Osmosis (RO) process has become one of the most widely utilised technologies for brackish water desalination for its capabilities of producing high-quality water. This paper emphasis on investigating the feasibility of implementing the retentate recycle design on the original design of an industrial medium-sized multistage and multi-pass spiral wound brackish water RO desalination plant (1200 m³/day) of Arab Potash Company (APC) located in Jordan. Specifically, this research explores the impact of recycling the high salinity stream of the 1st pass (at different recycled percentages) to the feed stream on the process performance indicators include, the fresh water salinity, overall recovery rate, and specific energy consumption. The simulation is carried out using an earlier model developed by the same authors for the specified RO plant using gPROMS suits. This confirmed the possibility of increasing the product capacity by around 3% with 100% recycle percentage of the high salinity retentate stream.

The amount of CCA treated wood being removed from spent residential decks is increasing at a tremendous rate. While most spent CCA treated wood is being disposed in landfills, further useful and environmentally beneficial alternatives have to be met. This research estimated the percentage of recoverable lumber from spent CCA decks that can be recycled into other usable products. Six residential decks were removed from service, by either demolition or deconstruction procedures. It was found that 86% of the CCA treated wood from the residential decks could be recovered as reusable CCA treated lumber. It was also found that deconstruction of a residential deck, rather than demolition, was not a factor in the volume of CCA treated wood recovered. Chemical and mechanical properties of the removed CCA treated wood were also analyzed. The chemical retention of the deck material proved that most of the spent CCA treated wood could be used in above ground applications. The stiffness of spent CCA treated wood from residential decks was approximately equal to that of recently treated CCA wood. The strength properties were slightly lower than recently treated CCA wood probably due mainly to physical and climatic degradation. Products were then produced that could be successfully utilized by recycling centers or community and government organizations. Products manufactured included, pallets, picnic tables, outdoor furniture, residential decks, and landscaping components. Waste management, recycling, and government organizations were interviewed to determine what markets and barriers exist for recycled CCA treated products. Most landfill and recycling facilities do not currently sort or recycle CCA treated wood, citing the main reason as a lack of a viable market. Potential users were interested in the material but citied they did not know where to locate the material. A communication barrier exists between the waste management industry, recyclers, and users; which is preventing the successful recycling of CCA treated wood from spent residential decks. / Master of Science

The horticulture industry is facing limited water resources and public pressure to reduce non-point source pollution. In some circumstances, recapturing and recycling of irrigation water in horticultural nurseries can generate significant savings relative to the costs of alternative water sources and potentially reduce non-point source pollution. However, obtaining these savings may also incur substantial risk and capital cost outlays. Disease risk may increase in nurseries that implement recapturing and recycling if recycled water is not properly treated. These added costs must be compared with costs of alternative sources of water, such as municipal or well water. This study employed partial budgeting to compare irrigation water being extended or supplemented through recapturing and recycling against the most feasible alternative. On-site visits were conducted to obtain information for partial budgets and to clarify the reasoning of nurseries choosing to recycle irrigation water. The partial budgets were supplemented with sensitivity analysis with regard to the extraction cost of water and opportunity cost of land used for recapture of water. Six of eight nurseries obtained water from recapturing and recycling at a lower cost compared to a feasible alternative source. The regrading of land for maximum recapture, opportunity cost of land dedicated to a recapture pond, and the cost of municipal water were parameters that were critical to the irrigation choice. Sensitivity analysis indicated that water price and land cost had little effect on the least cost option. Irrigation recycling could be incentivized to motivate further water conservation within the horticulture industry. / Master of Science

Det finns två typer av affärsmodeller: den linjära och den cirkulära. Den linjära modellen är baserad på produktion-användning-avfall, medans den cirkulära modellen använder strategier för att undvika avfall. Textilindustrin är ansvarig för ett årligt avfall på 92 miljoner ton, den cirkulära modellen blir därav en viktig lösning. Det finns flera strategier för anpassning av en cirkulär modell. I denna studien kommer fokus vara på Reuse, Repair, Redesign & Recycling som har gemensamt fokus att undvika avfall. Syftet med studien är att undersöka om svenska mode/outdoor företag arbetar med Reuse, Repair, Redesign & Recycle. Studien kommer också undersöka vilka utmaningar samt möjligheter som finns i användandet av de fyra hållbarhetsmetoderna. För att undersöka syftet har en triangulering använts, varav en enkätundersökning har genomförts på 23 svenska företag om det arbetar med Reuse, Repair, Redesign & Recycle. Intervjuer har genomförts på två företag. Dessa arbetar med någon eller flera av de fyra strategierna, vilket blir en viktig del i förståelsen av utmaningar och möjligheter. I resultatet presenteras hur många företag som arbetar med hållbarhet metoderna, vilken som är den svåraste att använda sig av och varför. Resultatet presenterar också utmaningar och möjligheter med dessa cirkulära strategier. Resultatet visar att Reuse och Repair används till stor del av de tillfrågade företagen jämfört med Redesign och Recycle. / There are two kinds of business models: the linear and the circular. The linear model is based on make-use-dispose, while the circular model is looking for further strategies to reduce waste. Since the textile industry uses a lot of resources, the waste is calculated to be an astounding 92 million tons yearly and therefore circular economy is a crucial solution. There are several strategies for a business to act more circular. This study focuses on Reuse, Repair, Redesign & Recycling which all of them focuses on reducing the textile waste. The purpose of this study is to understand if Swedish fashion/outdoor companies use Reuse, Repair, Redesign & Recycling. The study will also research what kind of difficulties and possibilities working with these four strategies could potentially be. To examine the purpose of this study a triangulation method has been used. A survey has been conducted for 23 Swedish companies questioning if they work with Reuse, Repair, Redesign & Recycle. Interviews have also been performed with two companies. These two are using some out of the four strategies, which will act as a critical part for the comprehension of the challenges and opportunities. The result will present how many of the companies that work with sustainable solutions, which ones are the hardest to achieve and why. It will also present challenges and possibilities with these circular strategies. The results illustrate that Reuse and Repair are more common as a sustainable solution in the company's business models than Redesign and Recycle.

Using mixed-culture fermentation, the carboxylate platform produces carboxylic acids, which are chemically converted into chemicals and fuels. To optimize the mixed-acid fermentation, different bioreactor configurations and operating modes were investigated. Intermittent air exposure did not affect fermentation performance and bacterial profiles, but reduced the high-molecular-weight carboxylic acids. The microbial flora contained strict and facultative microbes, suggesting the presence of a facultative anaerobic community existing in a biofilm. Compared to countercurrent trains, propagated fixed-bed fermentations have similar selectivity and acid distribution, but lower yield, conversion, productivity, and acid concentration. One- to six-stage countercurrent fermentations were operated with similar conditions. Fewer stages increased conversion, whereas more stages increased acid concentration and selectivity. One to four stages achieved similar yield, and four to six stages achieved similar maximum acid concentration. Maximum conversion was achieved with a single stage. Recycling residual biomass retained microorganisms and nutrients and increased yield and productivity. Relative to lower biomass reflux, higher reflux increased conversion, decreased selectivity, and did not affect yield. The recommended carbon-nitrogen ratio is ~24 g carbon/g nitrogen. In four-stage fermentations, recycle to the second fermentor and in parallel to the first three fermentors was optimal. Fermentations with excess or insufficient nitrogen had higher selectivity, but decreased yield and conversion. The glucose-utilization assay is a rapid and repeatable method for determining the amount of microbial activity in a sample. This method determined ~25% efficiency of a new cell separation method. In continuous fermentation, compared to no cell recycle, recycling cellular biomass increased selectivity and yield, but decreased conversion. Compared to lower cell reflux, higher reflux increased productivity, yield, and conversion, but decreased selectivity. Compared to residual biomass recycle, cell recycle had increased selectivity and yield, but decreased conversion. A new method to screen and rank inoculum sources from natural environments was successfully developed and tested.

Syftet är att granska cirkulära textila hållbara metoder inom fyra olika jeansvarumärken. Genom en tematisk analys ska deras skilda tillvägagångssätt till sina cirkulära koncept att presenteras. Dessa samlade cirkulära koncept är avsedda till nystartade jeansföretag, och ska utvärdera samt diskuteras huruvida dessa är lämpliga att implementera för deras verksamhet eller ej. Det nystartade jeansföretagets ambition är att implementera cirkulär ekonomi som för dem i dagsläget är svårt att utveckla på egen hand. De vill vara en del av den cirkulära ekonomin och hela dess verksamhet har sin utgångspunkt i att deras produkter ska bäras år in och år ut med så lång livslängd som det är möjligt. Deras vision är att vara ett cirkulärt företag, dock finns en avsaknad av viktiga tillhörande förutsättningar för att kunna implementera den cirkulära ekonomin. Dessa förutsättningar är olika typer av resurser som är avgörande för att kunna utveckla en cirkulär ekonomi. Dessa resurser är bland annat kunskap, medarbetarstyrka och kapital. Datainsamlingen består av granskning av fyra hållbarhetsrapporter samt en intervju med ett jeansföretag. Data har analyserats med avseende på vad som kan vara tillämpligt för att bli ett mer cirkulärt företag. Vikten av publicitet och marknadsföringskampanjer tas upp som en viktig aspekt i att bibehålla företaget hållbart ur en ekonomisk och cirkulär synvinkel. Som rekommenderade åtgärder diskuteras återvinningsprojekt, gränsöverskridande samarbeten samt kit utveckling. / The purpose is to examine circular textile sustainable methods within four different jeans brands. Through a thematic analysis, their different approaches to their circular concepts are presented. These collective circular concepts are intended for a start-up jeans company, and evaluate and discuss whether these are suitable to implement for their business or not. The start-up jeans company's ambition is to implement a circular economy which for them is currently difficult to develop on their own. They want to be part of the circular economy and its entire business is based on their products being worn year in and year out with as long a lifespan as possible. Their vision is to be a circular company, however there is a lack of important associated conditions to be able to implement the circular economy. These conditions are different types of resources that are crucial to be able to develop a circular economy. These resources include knowledge, staff capacity and capital. The data collection consists of reviewing four sustainability reports and an interview with a jeans company. Data have been analyzed with regard to what may be applicable to become a more circular company. The report has ended up in this conclusion; the importance of publicity and marketing campaigns is addressed as an main aspect in maintaining the company sustainably from an economic and circular point of view. Recommended measures are recycling projects, cross-border collaborations and kit development.

In January, 2009, I joined Bikes Across Borders, a local grassroots organization, on their yearly bike caravan to Mexico. The group works to promote bicycles, both here and in Mexico, as an environmentally and financially sound alternative to motorized transportation. Each winter, members ride bicycles they build out of salvaged parts to border cities in Mexico. They give these bicycles to maquiladora workers who would otherwise spend a large portion of their income on transportation. These workers make a fraction of what they would in the U.S. and live in shacks amid the pollution from the factories they work in. This is the story of one group’s attempt at making a difference in the lives of these workers. / text

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Engineering. Johannesburg, 2016 / The purpose of this investigation was to investigate whether or not it would be possible to separate blow moulded and injection moulded waste plastics using two techniques; air classification and ballistic separation. Air classification and ballistic separation are two techniques that separate different types of material according to size, shape and density. Previous research, together with new measurements, has suggested that blow mould plastics tend to be thinner in terms of wall thickness than injection moulded plastics meaning that air classification could be used to separate each type of plastic. The material used for the study was supplied by a Romanian recycler and was a mixture of High Density Polyethylene and polypropylene. Two additional samples, one Polyethylene rich and the other polypropylene rich, were also included in the research. The first part of the study involved measuring different characteristics of the material to determine how to go about performing the different air classification experiments. The second part of the study focused on separating the different material samples using different air classifier systems and a ballistic separation system. The third part of the study focused on processing the samples from part 2 (air classification) into test specimens for further mechanical and melt flow property measurements. After measuring the mechanical and melt flow properties of the different samples it was found that air classification did not substantially improve the mechanical or melt flow properties of the material. The study did, however, show that there is a strong correlation between polymer type and melt flow properties. High Density polypropylene is generally used for blow mould applications whereas polypropylene is generally used for injection mould applications. Separating the material according to polymer type therefore means that the material is, to an extent, also sorted according to melt flow properties. / MT2017