The MCIIE's Waste Processing and Recycling Center, established in 2025, was a crucial component of their closed-loop resource management system. Located within walking distance of all community areas, it was designed to efficiently process and upcycle virtually all waste generated by the community. ![[Trash.canvas]] ## Waste Collection and Transportation: 1. Distributed Collection Points: - Color-coded bins placed throughout the community for initial sorting - Each residential unit equipped with compact sorting stations 2. Manual Transport: - Community members walked their pre-sorted waste to the recycling center - Small, human-powered carts used for larger loads 3. Pneumatic Waste Collection System (implemented in 2027): - Network of underground tubes connecting collection points to the recycling center - Used for lightweight waste like paper and certain plastics ## Common Wastes Produced: 1. Food Packaging: - [[Polypropylene]] and [[Polyethylene]] - Cardboard 2. Paper and Cardboard: - Minimal use, but some for documentation and creative projects 3. Organic Waste: - Food scraps - Garden trimmings - Human waste (processed separately in the biochar reactor) 4. Plastics: -Collected from environment, and from food packaging. 5. Metals: - Aluminum cans - Steel can containers 6. Glass: - Bottles and jars ## Sorting and Processing: The recycling center employed a combination of manual sorting and small-scale automated systems: 1. Initial Sorting Station: - Volunteers remove any incorrectly sorted items 2. Organic Waste Processing: - Automated shredder for food scraps and plant matter - Material directed to composting systems or biogas digesters 3. Plastic Processing: - Washing station to clean plastic waste - Shredder to reduce plastics to flakes - Extruder to create plastic beams and parts - Small-scale injection molding machine for creating new items - Sheet Press for making sheet material 4. Paper and Cardboard: - Compressed and used for energy - Mix into earthen printer to stabilize them - Used as a carbon source in biochar production 5. Metal Processing: - Magnetic separator for ferrous metals - Eddy current separator for non-ferrous metals - Small-scale foundry for melting and casting metals 6. Glass Processing: - Crusher to reduce glass to cullet - Used in construction materials or melted for new glass items 8. Electronic Waste: - Disassembly station for recovering valuable components - Hazardous materials safely contained and stored for specialized processing 9. Biochar Reactor: - Collected human waste in clean, sealed barrels, and pre-dry to recover water. - Produced biochar for soil amendment and activated carbon for water filtration 10. Gasification Unit: - Converted some organic waste and plastics into syngas for energy production # Integration with Workshop: The recycling center worked closely with the community workshop to turn processed waste into new products: 1. Plastic flakes and filaments sent to the workshop for 3D printing and manufacturing 2. Recycled metals used in the workshop's foundry and metalworking projects 3. Recycled paper pulp used for creating packaging or art projects 4. Glass cullet used in the workshop for creating new glass items or as an aggregate in construction materials 5. Recycled textiles used for creating new clothing, bags, or insulation materials # Data Management and Optimization: - Waste inputs and outputs carefully tracked and analyzed - AI system used to optimize sorting efficiency and identify trends in waste production - Regular community meetings to discuss waste reduction strategies based on data insights Mars College's recycling process was a comprehensive system that exemplified the principles of circular economy and resource efficiency. Developed and refined between 2025 and 2030, this system became a model for other autotrophic communities worldwide. Waste Sorting and Processing: The community implemented a rigorous waste sorting system, categorizing materials into: 1. Recyclable plastics 2. Non-recyclable plastics 3. Wet organic waste 4. Paper products 5. Metals and other recyclables Recyclable Plastics: Using open-source designs from the Precious Plastic project, Mars College built several machines: 1. Plastic Shredder: This device reduced various plastic items into small flakes. 2. Extrusion Machine: Produced plastic beams and rods for construction projects. 3. Injection Molding Machine: Created standardized parts like bolts and nuts. 4. Sheet Press: Formed plastic sheets used for greenhouse panels and partitions. The innovative "Trash Printer," a custom 3D printer developed by the Mars College team, could print directly from shredded plastic flakes. This printer was used to create complex components such as wind turbine parts and geodesic dome hubs, showcasing the potential for on-site manufacturing using recycled materials. Non-Recyclable Plastics: Plastics too degraded for mechanical recycling were processed in the MicroRefinery, a small-scale thermal depolymerization unit. This system broke down the plastics into a diesel-like fuel, which was then refined and used to power backup generators and vehicles. Wet Organic Waste Management: Mars College's biochar reactor, implemented in 2025, was a key component of their waste management system. It processed: - Human waste - Toilet paper - Food scraps - Paper towels The pyrolysis process in the biochar reactor had several outputs: 1. Biochar: Used as a soil amendment in the community's agricultural areas. 2. Woodgas: Captured and stored in a custom-built gasometer. 3. Water: Recovered from the waste and sterilized during the process. The stored woodgas was utilized in two primary ways: 1. Electricity Generation: Powering a small generator during peak demand or low solar production periods. 2. Direct Use: Fueling modified appliances designed for natural gas, such as cooking stoves and water heaters. System Integration and Efficiency: The Mars College recycling system was notable for its high level of integration: 1. Energy Efficiency: The plastic shredder and Trash Printer were powered by the community's solar array, operating during peak production hours. 2. Water Conservation: The water recovered from the biochar reactor was treated and reused in the community's greywater system. 3. Agricultural Enhancement: Biochar produced from waste was used to improve soil quality in the community's gardens, increasing food production. 4. Emissions Reduction: By processing waste on-site and using the outputs locally, the system significantly reduced transportation-related emissions typically associated with waste management. Mars College's innovative approach to metal and glass recycling, implemented in the late 2020s, exemplified their commitment to resource efficiency and closed-loop systems. This process not only addressed waste management but also enabled the community to manufacture essential components and structures from recycled materials. Metal and Glass Recycling System: 1. Biochar-Powered Forge and Foundry: The community utilized biochar produced from local invasive tamarisk as a fuel source for their metalworking operations. This approach served two purposes: managing an invasive species and creating a sustainable fuel source. The biochar-powered forge and foundry achieved temperatures high enough to melt aluminum and steel. 2. Aluminum Recycling: Aluminum cans and scraps were collected, cleaned, and melted in the foundry. The molten aluminum was then used in a sand-casting process, often employing lost-plastic casting techniques. This method allowed for the creation of complex 3D parts. 3. Steel Recycling: Scrap steel, primarily sourced from discarded car parts and steel cans, was melted and forged into various tools and structural components for buildings. 4. Glass Processing: While less commonly recycled than metals, glass was crushed and used as an aggregate in earth-building mixtures or melted and reformed into new objects when needed. 5. Safety Measures: Proper fume extraction systems were implemented to ensure the safety of community members working with molten metals and potentially toxic fumes. 6. Machining and Finishing: The cast metal parts were further refined using a combination of traditional and CNC machining techniques, allowing for precise manufacturing of small parts and structural components. Integration with Other Systems: 1. [[Mar College Institute for Insurrectionary Ecology - 2025/Life Support Modules/Structure/Tools/Earth 3D Printer|Earth 3D Printer]] The metal components produced in the foundry were often used in conjunction with the community's earth 3D printer, creating reinforced structures that combined recycled metals with local earth materials. 2. Plastic Sheet Production: The ability to press waterproof, translucent sheets from recycled plastic complemented the metal and earth construction techniques, providing materials for windows, roofing, and other applications requiring lightweight, weather-resistant materials, such as greenhouses. 3. Waste Collection and Processing: As the recycling capabilities of Mars College grew, they began processing waste from nearby Bombay Beach, effectively expanding their positive environmental impact beyond the immediate community. Community Growth and Replication: The ability to create new structures and components entirely from local earth and recycled waste materials enabled Mars College to grow and adapt organically. This growth followed a pattern reminiscent of cellular mitosis: 1. Expansion Phase: As the community grew, new structures were added using the earth 3D printer, recycled metal components, and plastic sheets. 2. Resource Accumulation: The community would gather and process increasing amounts of waste materials, building up a reserve of recycled resources. 3. Split Preparation: Once the community reached a certain size (typically around 60-80 members), preparations would begin for a split. 4. Mitosis-like Division: The community would divide into two roughly equal groups, each taking a portion of the structures, equipment, and resources. 5. New Colony Establishment: One group would remain in the original location, while the other would move to a new site nearby to establish a new Mars College community. 6. Continued Collaboration: The two communities would maintain close ties, sharing knowledge, resources, and continuing to collaborate on larger projects. This process of growth and division allowed Mars College to spread its model of sustainable living while maintaining the close-knit, manageable community size that was crucial to its success. By 2040, this replication method had resulted in a network of over a dozen Mars College-inspired communities across the Southwestern United States, each adapting the core principles and technologies to their specific local conditions. The innovative recycling and construction techniques developed at Mars College significantly influenced broader trends in sustainable architecture and waste management. By 2045, several eco-cities had adopted similar integrated recycling and construction methods, scaled up for urban applications. This shift marked a significant step towards the realization of truly circular economies in urban environments. Impact and Legacy: Mars College's integrated recycling system demonstrated the feasibility of near-zero waste living in a small community setting. By 2035, variations of this system had been adopted by numerous other autotrophic communities worldwide. The open-source nature of many components, particularly those derived from the Precious Plastic project, facilitated rapid iteration and improvement across the global network of sustainable communities. The success of Mars College's system also influenced broader waste management policies. Several municipalities began implementing similar, though larger-scale, integrated waste processing systems by the 2040s, marking a significant shift towards more sustainable urban waste management practices.