A2 Product Design: RMT

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A2 Product Design RMT Unit 4a - Selection of
Materials
The recycling of materials
Key issue for designed products is how are they
going to be disposed of? Whereas at certain time
during the 20th Century objects were created with
Built in Obsolescence now designers have a
responsibility to Design for Disassembly
Designer as evil
Designer as good
AEG washing machine 1960s
Dyson CR02 washing machine. 2005
During the 21st century designers are empowered
by the demand of society to develop products that
can be easily dismantled and recycled as part of
their Life Cycle Analysis. Materials from
products of the 20th Century tended to be
difficult to reclaim and recycle as many
materials used in such a way that made it
difficult for them to be recovered. Steel had
been chromed, and painted or covered in zinc and
tin., making it difficult to recover any of the
metals.
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A2 Product Design RMT Unit 4a - Selection of
Materials
Landfills
Landfills seem to solve immediate issues of
waste. The average household produces 1 tonne of
waste per year with most of it going into to
landfills. Incineration and dumping at sea are
two other methods employed to quickly eradicate
household waste.
Landfill sites are quickly running out.

• Issues associated with landfills
• Rubbish tends not to simply biodegrade
• Biodegradable materials decompose very slowly in
  airless environment
• Toxins and contaminants are common in landfills
  leach into soil, river and stream and
  eventually water sources.
• Gasses emitted contribute to the greenhouse gases

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A2 Product Design RMT Unit 4a - Selection of
Materials
Recycling Cars
1959 Chevrolet Impala
Smart car 42 2005
Cars have been very difficult to recycle due to
the combination of materials that are used in
their production. Plastics such a foam in seats
and dashboards represent 10 of a vehicles mass
and these parts are extremely difficult to
recycle. Body parts and engine parts made from
steel, and aluminium are readily recycled and
make a significant energy saving in the
production of new metals 95 in the case of
aluminium.
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A2 Product Design RMT Unit 4a - Selection of
Materials
Legislation
The UK government has set legislation for car
manufacturers and waste disposal
companies Reduction in quotas from 15 to 5 of
allowable waste in all motor vehicle has been
introduced.
Rover Streetwise 2005.
This has encouraged companies who are involved in
the production of cars to rationalise their
products and clearly identify the parts
particularly plastics, with internationally
accepted recognition codes. The companies
involved in dismantling have been instructed to
reuse components and fluids where technically and
economically viable. In Germany similar laws
encourage companies to comply with legislation
that require suppliers and manufacturers of
packaging to take responsibility for it
collection, disposal and or recycling. Materials
such as expanded polystyrene and cardboard are
high on the agenda.