What is the right thing to do with your old iron, toaster, hair-dryer, blender, radio and kettle? Often we’re left with little alternative but to throw them away. They can’t go in your recyclables and taking them to the dump to be disposed of properly is such a hassle. Perfectly sized for the household bin, this is where most of them end up. Valuable and finite material resources are getting lost to landfill.

This project explored three different approaches to improving this complex problem: The Realist – an internationally mass produced product, designed for recapture through existing recycling systems and rapid disassembly. The Pragmatist – a strong consumer–manufacturer relationship establishes repair and makes this object last nine times longer using optimum material reprocessing methods.The Optimist – where the material value and longevity of the object becomes so clear it will last for generations.

So what will you choose? The Realist, Pragmatist or the Optimist?

Richard Gilbert, Matthew Laws, Adam Paterson

www.designoutwaste.com