Aluminum Expert says it’s time to start mining New Jersey

Article and Graphic by Dana Kampman

Since the dawn of the industrial revolution the world’s ore deposits have depleted to dangerously low levels and the industrial thirst for aluminum has increased. China accounts for 40% of the world’s aluminum use, and is projected to increase its demand by 8-10% annually over the next 5 years, according to Novelis Inc., the world’s largest consumer of aluminum.

So where will the world get its supply? “New Jersey!” Dr. Subodh Das says with a smile.  Dr. Das’s calculations show that it is possible to recover 4.5 million metric tons per year from urban mines, many of which are located just outside of major US cities.

It is estimated that U.S. landfills contain more than 20-30 million tons of used beverage cans, valued at approximately US $ 50-75 billion at current aluminum prices. According to the EPA, only 51.8% of aluminum cans in the US are being recycled. The new deposits of aluminum are increasing by 1 million tons annually; an amount valued at approximately US $ 2.5 billion. Put in terms of new aluminum production, the annual US used beverage cans being buried in landfills are equivalent to running three primary aluminum smelters (approximately 330, 000 tons per year/smelter) full time.

Dr. Das believes urban mining can absorb some of the world metals demand and reduce humanities future impact on the earth. The next steps to move Urban Mining forward include mapping landfills for metal deposits, taking core samples and testing techniques to separate the metals from mixed materials. Dr. Das and his company Phinix, LLC are currently working with students at Bainbridge Graduate Institute to further this venture and is looking for thought partners. You can find out more about Dr. Subodh Das and urban mining on his company website, www.phinix.net.

For more from Dr. Das, visit his blog, follow him on Twitter at @subodhkdas.

Introducing C3 by Forterra

What is a Juicy Workplace to You?

I tried rotating this image before and after uploading. Either way, my site is determined to show it sideways.

What makes a juicy workplace for you? A few weeks ago, I decided to take a trip to Portland, Oregon for an extended weekend. What was supposed to be a “vacation” turned into one of the most engaging and rewarding weekends I’ve had in a while. The new Bolt Bus route on the West coast allowed me to get a $3 roundtrip ticket between Seattle and Portland. As the weekend approached, I decided to schedule some meetings with some people I know in the Portland community. I’m glad I did. Those meetings didn’t feel like work. Instead, they served as a chance to more deeply connect with some people I respect.

Angela Hamilton is one of those people, and introduced me to the Portland State University’s Social Sustainability Colloquium. What was the topic for this Friday’s presentation? “How can Portland be a model city for fostering a vibrant, juicy workplace.” Yeah, I had to go. What was, for all intents and purposes, a two hour brainstorming session, exposed me to a wide range of thoughts and people regarding a sustainable workplace. For me, a juicy workplace is one where people are free to bring their authentic self. It would be a place where diversity in all its forms is not tolerated but regarded as essential to developing strength, a better product, a better service and better workplace environment.

Buying Local Is About More Than Building A Local Economy

 

Let’s forget, for a moment, that supporting local business is great for the local economy, healthy for a community, and especially with regard to food, can aid in health-related issues such as allergies. It’s just plain fun. I’ve recently helped host a couple of “cash mobs” here in Seattle and when I take time to reflect on what went well, what could be improved, and how I feel overall, I’m learning that supporting local businesses simply feels good.

I come home now to three indoor plants I bought at Village Green Perennial Nursery, where I’ve gotten to know the entire staff on a first name basis. In fact, we’ve gotten to be friends. We hang out, go to lunch from time to time, invite each other to different events, and share each other with people we find valuable. Today, we met up at Bedrock Industries. For about 5 months I passed over this place every single day to and from work and never realized it was a business that’s open to the public. Today, I had my chance to walk around. I felt like I was on an adult field trip.

Now on to the material things. While, I don’t place much stock in material possessions, when I look at the plants in my window and my recycled glass coasters, I know the story behind eace piece. When we buy local, we don’t live in disposable culture. We appreciate the time, effort, and skill that goes into what we adorn our lives with.

Let’s forget, for a moment, that supporting local business is great for the local economy, healthy for a community, and especially with regard to food, can aid in health-related issues such as allergies. It’s just plain fun. I’ve recently helped host a couple of “cash mobs” here in Seattle and when I take time to reflect on what went well, what could be improved, and how I feel overall, I’m learning that supporting local businesses simply feels good.

I come home now to three indoor plants I bought at Village Green Perennial Nursery, where I’ve gotten to know the entire staff on a first name basis. In fact, we’ve gotten to be friends. We hang out, go to lunch from time to time, invite each other to different events, and share each other with people we find valuable. Today, we met up at Bedrock Industries. For about 5 months I passed over this place every single day to and from work and never realized it was a business that’s open to the public. Today, I had my chance to walk around. I felt like I was on an adult field trip.

Now on to the material things. While, I don’t place much stock in material possessions, when I look at the plants in my window and my recycled glass coasters, I know the story behind eace piece. When we buy local, we don’t live in disposable culture. We appreciate the time, effort, and skill that goes into what we adorn our lives with.

Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action