When you consider the impact of technology and research in Disney parks, thrown glass bottles are probably not the first thing that comes to mind. Maybe you don’t see all this glass like Disney.
Disney is now busy spraying part of these glass bottles; Nearly 2,000 pounds can be crushed in an hour and reused for use in other areas, potentially on horse trails, replacing the floor in a greenhouse, or even where the mulch was once.
The industrial machine – a glass spray – is located in an area behind the scenes of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort in Orlando, Florida, out of view of customers. It is quite low technology, without high -tech components used.
All this crushed glass ultimately becomes a somewhat brilliant material, clean and similar to sand. “We have an almost complete greenhouse with pulverized glass,” said Debbie Mola Mickler, regional director of Disney’s horticulture. “The distribution members ask me questions about it because they pass and their natural reaction is:” WOW, your greenhouse in greenhouse is brilliant. “”
“Wow, your greenhouse soil shines.
Debbie Mola Mickler, regional director of Disney’s horticulture
And it is the product produced by the glass sprayer.
This project started when other Disney environmental teams asked what to do with the glass, said Jarrod Stewart, Disney Environment Integration Project Director.
“Could we spray it? Use it potentially for the repair of roads, other things?” were the questions offered to Stewart.
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So started a search for a machine that could take a bottle of wine with a wax joint always around and a label at the front, separate it, then crush the glass safely to disperse a sand material.
“I came across the type of machine that we execute here that separates all these non-glassing articles,” he said. “He actually discharges the labels and all that, all that separately.”
The result is a sand -shaped material that can mix with naughty or replace the mulch – no high -tech sensor required. “There is no smart equipment on this machine – not even in the control panel,” said Stewart.
At the heart is a patented hammer mill. “The glass bottle has disappeared, but the wax is always intact, even with the drops and everything that comes out,” said Stewart. “It is a very interesting percussive action … It is the patented part of the machine.”
While more and more Disney World property teams have heard of the pilot, the interest has increased. Debbie Mola Mickler saw it in the news and immediately called Stewart to ask for a test batch for greenhouses and the horticulture team. The catering team also wanted to be included, offering a transport solution: “They said:” You know what, our trucks run on the property all day … We will simply drop the full bins and pick up the gaps while we pass, “said Stewart.
The release of Pulverizer is now used in certain areas that customers can see. “We used it in a few places on stage,” said Stewart. “One in Fort Wilderness, where he actually replaces the mulch around the catering truck cushion.” In this case, it is a more permanent solution, because the mulch should possibly be replaced due to wear.
Behind the scenes, the imaginations teams and the Disney facilities explore even more uses, in particular concrete or non -structural trails. He could even be found in other Disney places in the world and even on the sea, graceful of Disney Cruise Line – either with the sand material produced, or with the glass sent to be sprayed.
“The durability design team determines how it can be used to work towards sustainable design objectives that they have using recycled materials in construction,” said Stewart.
While the pulverizer remains in an area behind the scenes, the impact of the initiative is more and more visible.
Hey, can we participate? How do we help it grow?
Jarrod Stewart, Disney environmental integration project manager
“You know, sometimes, when you ask people to sort their waste in another category, you know, they are a little hesitant, or you could get a little step back,” said Stewart.
“In this case, because people see it, they identify with history. They want to be part of it. So we receive calls every week of” hey, can we participate? How do we help it? “”
