How can I reuse or recycle perspex display props?
We’ve had an email from Joe, who works for a fancy handbag designer with a number of select boutiques around the UK:
I am trying to find a way to recycle these display Perspex props. We used them in lots of our London stores and have loads of them. Sadly they are mostly all damaged so I don’t think anybody else would want them.
I really don’t want to throw them away and am trying to find out what to do with them.
It is possible to recycle perspex (aka plexiglas, lucite or acrylic glass) but it’s not widely done post-consumer — I can only find details of a scheme which aimed at collecting offcuts & waste from perspex manufacturers. (In case anyone is interested, it was the Amari Recycling Initiative – does anyone know any post-consumer collection?)
Even damaged, the raw material might be usable by makers/crafters. Local art schools (or just the the art/design&tech depts of normal schools), hacker/maker groups (such as hackspaces) or scrapstores would probably all welcome the donation – and depending on the area/amount, might even be able to do a collection. Or someone on Freecycle/Freegle might want them too.
Any other suggestions for recycling/reusing them en masse? Or individual projects for small pieces of perspex?
In the creche where I work, the playworkers have cut shapes out of transparent coloured material and stuck them on the windows so the light shines through them.
It’s really effective and looks bright and colourful – they also cut out the letters BOOK CORNER and hung them up with coloured string.
The material is recyclable. If you could accumulate a minimum of 10 tonnes I would be interested.
You can contact me directly on talisint@aol.com
Regards
Stuart Ellis
Hi Stuart where are you situated as for me I am in Johannesburg South Africa and my name is Eric Harrison
Hi Eric
I’m UK based.
Regards
Stuart
They could be sandblasted and used again. I would use them and I have lots of display stands from an old show shop that I use regularly for my work and for my work as an arts liaison officer.
We have a Perspex recycling programme where we can process Perspex for recycling.
You can contact us at http://www.theplasticshop.co.uk for further.
Sometimes the plastic from recycled computer cases is remoulded and turned into useable objects. This is why the reuse of computers is far better than just disposing of your old computers.
If you are based in Singapore, you can drop your acrylic and polycarbonate (solid only) at our place.
We collect form individual and resell to recycling company when reaching enough weight for them to come and collect.
We will even give you cash based on weight, currently $0.50/kg ;-)
I have a facility to recycle this material, i can collect anything from 500kgs + from anywhere in the UK. You can contact me on 07809616876. or email me at energy.solutions@ntlworld.com. We are based in the NW of england.
I need a company or person to buy perspex to be recycled in South Africa. I am based in Gauteng, Randfontein.