The creation of Porticrete, a concrete mixture made with old toilets, shows that just about any product can serve another purpose after it can no longer fulfill its original one. Conceived by the mind of Freeman Anthony, a Bellingham, Washington, city worker, Porticrete is currently being used to extend pedestrian walkways. Anthony came up with the idea of Porticrete when he recalled a story about a local charity replacing 400 old toilets.
Crushed and added to the Porticrete mix, the toilets make up 20% of the overall blend. By doing this, Anthony was able to save 5 tons of porcelain from Bellingham’s landfill.
Porticrete was awarded the first World’s First Greenroad award by the University of Washington’s roadway design and construction rating system, the Greenroads Foundation.
Toilet-Made Cement
Porticrete is Made Out of Recycled Potty Porcelain
Trend Themes
1. Recycled Construction Materials - Using recycled materials, such as old toilets, in construction to create sustainable and environmentally-friendly products.
2. Circular Economy - Finding new purposes for discarded products, like old toilets, by repurposing them in innovative ways.
3. Sustainable Infrastructure - Developing eco-friendly materials like Porticrete that contribute to the construction of sustainable and resilient infrastructure.
Industry Implications
1. Construction - The construction industry can explore the use of recycled materials like old toilets to create sustainable and cost-effective infrastructure.
2. Waste Management - The waste management industry can find opportunities to repurpose discarded products like old toilets into valuable materials for construction.
3. Environmental Services - Companies in the environmental services sector can innovate by developing new methods to transform waste, like old toilets, into useful resources for infrastructure projects.