Grow Your Own Magazine

My oh is doing an ou course in design and needs to design something. It can be absolutely anything but needs to 'solve' a problem. He was thinking of doing something to do with water collection and storage. However he's been doing some research and most possibilities seem to have been catered for. So does anyone have any suggestions or problems that he can solve?
I suggested rhubarb snapps storage ....

With most councils going to two weekly pick up of rubbish, is there someway of having a bin that compacts household waste, for ease of removal when the bin men turn up oir for turning into fuel. If the rubbish is compacted before it gets to landfill, we wouldn't have a many problems with having to dig more landfills. Also, if all houses have this system and certain things can't be compacted won't it by default encourage recycling? Just a thought. If he sells it, want some credit! Rhubarb schnapps storage, now that's my territory...

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Best wishes
Andrewo
Harbinger of Rhubarb tales

Definite potential there, thanks Andrew. If he sells the idea and makes millions would you like your royalties in Rhubarb Schnapps?

andrewo - that is a really good idea!. We missed our fornightly collection because of the bank holiday and we are overflowing with rubbish. Have you noticed though that most of the rubbish in the bins is plastic ? Our council doesn't collect that. maybe an alternative to andrew's suggestion is something to compress non biodegradeable plastic - maybe by gentle heating followed by compression??? Maybe we should just ban non biodegradeable plastic??but that is moving away from the thread!
My other thought would be to have a water storage system inside a cavity wall. this would also help insulate the house aswell as for use in the garden etc. A large bore hose/tube could be run inside the cavity - (a bit like underfloor heating ) from the roof gutters through to the drain.Some could be diverted and solar heated for use as grey water....

ps patent pending on those 2 ideas!!!!

Andrew unless your council is really really behind the times then the dustcart is a giant compressor anyway and when it dumps it out, the rubbish gets attacked by bulldozers equipped with sheeps-foot rollers (prickly steel wheels) at landfill, or goes through a shredding & sifting process for composting waste.

How about an allotment trailer?
Needs to be compact or foldable for storage.
Big enough to be worth having.
Strong enough for a load of manure or a rotovator up to Howard GEM size.
Lashing points.
Cover(s).
Integral ramp and fold down rear.
Rot resistant (manure).
Easily cleanable (manure)
Lightweight.
Cheap.
Easy to make.
Capable of being towed by either an Astra/Focus, or Fiesta/Corsa class car.

That enough conflicting requirements to make design necessary?

Regards, Peter.

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Thanks Peter I've passed that one on.

Going back to your OH's idea about the water how about something to collect ,store & purify 'grey' water- water from baths,sinks etc. Something like a water butt with a filter system (charcoal?) to take out some of the soaps/chemicals etc. so that the water could be used to water the garden,wash the car etc.Not sure if anything like this exists already but if it doesn't & one of you develops it I'd like my cut please!

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Into every life a little rain must fall.

Thanks Sue, all royalties are to be paid in Rhubarb Schnapps

Better hanging baskets? Folk always seem to be asking how to have them retain water (maybe some sort of dual 'skin' liner?) and how to make them easy to water.

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Manda.

"Wouldn't it be nice
For maybe an hour
To not have a care."