Mobile plastics recycling project wins WDO's World Design Impact Prize

The Montreal-based World Design Organization has named a mobile, solar-powered, plastic-waste upcycling platform as the winner of its World Design Impact Prize™ for 2021.

Designed by Taiwanese engineering firm Miniwiz Co. Ltd., the system – called Trashpresso – is said to be "the world's first mobile waste recycling plant that transforms industrial and household trash into sustainable materials." After WDO issued an open call for nominations, a review panel of international experts shortlisted the entries to 10 projects.

The design group’s international membership voted to determine the three finalists which, in addition to Trashpresso, included a Dutch self-cleaning water filter called JERRY: The Jerrycan Waterfilter, and a personal safety app from India called My Safetipin. WDO membership then selected the winner late last year.

First developed in 2017, Trashpresso consists of a 40-foot container housing the processing line and a 20-foot solar cell unit. Both units are said to be "land, sea and air transportation ready." Miniwiz, founded in March 2005 by architect and structural engineers Arthur Huang and Jarvis Liu, continues to work to make Trashpresso more compact and intelligent.

Trashpresso compacts the recycling process into three steps: size reduction, purification, and reshaping. Additionally, the firm says air and water filters further safeguard the environment against discharge from the processing operations.

Trashpresso can process various types of plastic, including polystyrene, expanded PS foam, polypropylene, PET, and low density and high density polyethylene, and products such as bottles, caps, plastic cutlery, cup lids, marine rope, bubble wrap, bags, razors, syringes, gloves and more. 

The system is capable of handling 50 kilogram of waste plastic per hour. It processes that waste into robust, low-cost, architectural tiles that can be used for interior or exterior decoration, flooring or insulation. Miniwiz says it takes five plastic bottles or about 50 caps and ringlets to produce one tile. The system cannot yet handle thin films such as bottle labels. The Miniwiz website also shows other possible end-use applications, such as bowls, drink coasters and personal accessories.

Two Trashpresso lines are currently running – one in Asia and one in Europe, with more sites planned.

The company says its R&D team is developing new portable recycling lines that can operate independently or as part of a closed-loop system. It notes that Trashpresso 3 is under development at the Miniwiz labs in Taiwan and Germany, with the aim of introducing the line to North America. It suggests that containers will no longer be needed and that only two simple truck trailers will be needed to transport the units in the future. Additionally, the solar panels will be flexible.

When announcing the design prize winner, WDO stated: "With the ultimate goal of incentivizing upcycling for both developed and developing communities around the world, the project showcases the need to strengthen and innovate existing waste management systems and boost engagement and awareness for sustainable practices."

WDO created the World Design Impact Prize in 2011 "to honor and elevate industrial design driven projects that use design and/or design thinking to make a positive impact on our social, economic, cultural and/ or environmental quality of life." It gives out the honor every two years.