Paternoster plastic waste up-cycler

A concept for a domestic plastic waste up-cycler that uses mycelium to break down plastic packaging waste.

There is a fundamental contradiction between the need for disposable plastic packaging and the need for environmental sustainability. By its very definition, packaging must be robust and able to withstand attack by the environment over months or years. But biodegradability is precisely the property of yielding to attack by the environment in a reasonably short space of time. Beyond bacteria, one class of life stands out as a powerful decomposer: the fungus.

The paternoster waste up-cycler concept utilizes the properties of fungi that have powerful enzymes and decomposing power. A mycelium attached to plastic, would have the ability to decompose and metabolize the plastic. Provided the inks on the plastic did not contain toxic heavy metals, this mycelium could in theory generate edible mushrooms.

In this concept the plastics are ground into small chips and mixed with a fungal starter culture in a glass canister, which is slotted into a compartment of the ‘paternoster’ system. A hand-cranked conveyor moves the canisters along a circuit within a dark cavity. Each week plastic grounds are mixed with mycelium. It takes several weeks to break down the plastic or other waste material. At late stages in the cycle the contents are exposed to daylight (via an aperture) and air allowing the mycelium to sprout delicious mushroom fruit, ready to eat. The decomposing waste can be molded into shapes.

The paternoster is made out of plywood and copper, and uses off the shelf bottles and containment canisters. It can be self assembled and is designed to show its workings and make the slow cycle of decomposition understandable to children. This concept is designed to raise awareness about waste and natural methods of regeneration.

Far-future design concepts
The paternoster waste up-cycler is part of the Microbial Home Probe, a far-future design concept. It is not intended as a production prototype nor will it be sold as a Philips product. Like past Probe Design Concepts that have stimulated discussion around a range of issues, this concept is testing a possible future – not prescribing one.

19 October 2011