Australians Get a Bike Path Made From Recycled Printer Cartridges!

(photo credit: Justin Brierty)
Australia’s National Park Service recently unveiled a new bike path in the West MacDonnell National Park that includes a bridge made out of recycled printer cartridges. The 17 km bike path connects Alice Springs to Simpsons Gap and hopes to encourage more visitors to the park. In keeping with the government’s commitment to sustainable development, they chose low-maintenance, durable and environmentally friendly materials made from recycled plastic.

(photo credit: ABC/Kristy Nancarrow) The new bike path upgrades cost $330,000 and includes 17 km of bike path and a viewing platform at Ormiston Gorge. The new bridge is made out of Replas Recycled Plastics made by Repeat Plastics Australia. Replas uses recycled plastics from the domestic and commercial waste streams, specifically recycled printer cartridges.
Parks and Wildlife Minister Karl Hampton said, “Every year more than 120,000 people visit the magnificent West MacDonnell National Park, and by investing in our parks we are able to ensure visitors have a unique experience while we protect our environment… Here at Simpsons Gap repairs and upgrades to the Bike Path Bridge are now complete, leaving us a safer bridge for riders and a great natural aesthetic… In keeping with our government’s commitment to sustainable development, the bridge is made from recycled plastic decking or Replas, saving landfill, trees and ensuring a longer life with less maintenance.”

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What is epoxy and what is it used for?

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Epoxy is a high-strength glue which is far superior to the majority of paste glues available on the market. Its full name is polyepoxide as it is formed by the reaction of polyamine and epoxide.
It is often used within fiber reinforced plastic materials and general purpose adhesives or producing epoxy coatings amongst other things.

Epoxy coatings
Epoxy coatings refers to a type of paint which is tough, resistant and waterproof. It is most often used when a hard durable paint surface is needed. For this reason, it is very popular on floors of garages, warehouses and other high-traffic areas.
Although it goes very hard when it dries, it is recognisable by its glossy sheen.

Fiber reinforced plastic materials
These are a composite material normally made with an epoxy polymer and carbon fibres. It proves useful for the construction of any objects which require plastics of high-strength or great elasticity. Its use is popular within the aerospace, automotive and construction industries.
Examples of its use within the aerospace industry include typical fiber reinforcements such as glass, carbon and boron.

General purpose adhesives
Epoxy’s main use is arguably within many types of adhesives including thermosetting adhesives. They are a major part of structural and engineering adhesive categories as well.
These adhesives are best used when on materials which need more than a basic glue to stick them together such as wood, metal, glass or stone. They are often used on aircraft and sports equipment such as golf clubs, bicycles, boats and snowboards.

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Cast In Concrete Colour Charts

Sample colours for Concrete Floors, Dyes and Acid Stains. For more information, please click here.

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Concrete Floors

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Dyes

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Acid Stains

Katie Green Mosaic Glass Sculptor

 

Slate Tiles

About Slate Tiles

Slate tiles are extensively used in flooring, roofing, kitchen backsplash paving and to make kitchen slabs and also in slate patios. Brazil, India, China, Italy, South Africa, Spain, UK and USA are the chief countries where the slate tiles are found.

Slate tile has varied degree of compressive strength and hardness and can be used for exterior as well as interior applications. Slate tiles not only look good but also very cost effective if you are considering to put natural stone on wall or floor. Fire resistant and anti-slip quality further make the natural slate tiles the perfect choice by homeowners and interior designers. Also if you look at the color then there is a range of exotic colors in the bouquet of slate tiles to make it more desirable.They may be available in a plethora of shapes such as square, rectangular, triangular, irregular, or custom made shapes.

Types of Slate tiles

• Slate Floor Tiles
• Slate Wall Tiles
• Outdoor Slate Tiles
• Slate Roof Tiles

Send ONLINE ENQUIRY for wholesale purchase of slate tiles, flooring slate tiles, wall slate tiles, outdoor slate tiles etc.

Slate Tiles Patterns

Slate tiles are available in varied patterns to suit the different needs of users. Manufacturers of slate tiles specialize in custom-making a large range of patterns for slate tiles that can be copied from a number of traditional layouts or designed to give a more artistic or individual scheme. Also slate tile patterns in floor can be made by using different color and size of this natural stone. Learn how to remodel your kitchen with slate stone.

Slate Tiles Colors & Textures

Slate tile provide a large choice of color and textures, and individual designs are limitless. You can get it in black, copper, greenish grey and purplish grey but the most abundant is early color that is composed of brown, yellow and beiges. Slate tile is also available in multi-color so you will have many colors in one tile only. So while working with multi-color slate tiles you will have to be very cautious as every tile will be different and look so unique. So creating slate tile pattern here is a bit challenging. Along with this while creating a pattern consider the surface of this natural stone.

Slate Tile Surface & Colors

Slate Tile Surface

• Polished Slate Tile:Polished slate tile is very glossy and smooth. Its edges are cut to have even and straight tile.
• Honed Slate Tile: Honed is like polished surface but the edges are very sharp.
• Tumbled or Aged Slate Tile:This type of slate tile has uneven edges, un-polished surface and not so uniform.
• Brushed or Chiselled Edges Slate TileIt has the semi-polished surface in which edges are chiselled and made more soft.
• Clefted Slate Tile:The surface is kept natural with ridges. So the type of surface you are taking with make the difference in the slate tile pattern. To avoid any kind of chaos it is better to make layout on the floor before actual work. Slate wall tiles are also very popular category of natural slate tiles. These are used in kitchen backsplash, and on walls.

http://www.slate-stone.com/slate-tiles.html

Inspirational garden ideas from MIFGS

Every autumn, one of the things that 

I get very excited about is the

Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show,

held in the beautiful Carlton Gardens 

near the Paris end of Collins Street, in the CBD. 

{Oh yes, there is a "New York" end too!}

It's a great spot to see interesting combinations

of plants, and fresh landscape design ideas.

{Kalanchoe Flapjacks contrast with 

lime green Acacia Cognata & silver Senecio Cineraria.}

And being autumn, the leaves are just 

starting to turn glorious russet tones.

 Canadian Lipstick Maples form 

a sentry to a hot bubbling outdoor spa

{just seen to the right.}

This little garden was designed by a landscape

architecture student, and won gold in the 

student category. 

How wonderful are those twirling orange arches?

Gorgeous Stacey from Design Addict Mom, 

this one is for you and your love of orange!

Orange was a popular colour ~ here used in cushions

in a moated water retreat.

 

A simple idea of bound rope and wire, 

easily done and very effective.

I fell in love with these little timber spheres, 

hand whittled from stumps of old trees,

and showing the markings of age. 

And I couldn't help hoping that this 

lovely sculpture would spring forth 

a spray of misty water. 

Wouldn't that be refreshing on a hot summery day?

But water did spring forth from 

this wonderfully raised stone rill.

And these curved slate stone steps, 

set with mondo grass and edged with blue 

lobelia + oak~leaf hydrangea,

are inviting in the extreme!

Rusted cortens steel always 

stops me in my tracks

in a garden.

Perhaps because of the complimentary 

colour contrast between red and green.

This is such a "do~able" idea for signage

in a veggie garden. 

It is just a little piece of slate, 

marked with white chalk,

and hanging from a curved piece of 

rusted steel.

{Uh, oh, rusted steel again....love it!}

But polished steel can look stunning 

in a garden too, as it does here 

in a children's play garden theme. 

Prowling colourful robots

entertained the children.

{Or would that be "terrified the children",

looking at this child's expression?}

There is a sculpture auction, held to raise 

money for charity. I loved this fellow!

One of my favourite exhibits are these beauties.

They are part of the competition by 

fashion design students to 

dress a mannequin 

entirely with 

fruit and flowers. 

Gorgeous!

Palm seed pods formed a giant flower 

in this wonderful display in the florist competition.

And a hanging display of golden pears 

and twigs reminds us just how beautiful

everyday objects can be, 

when a little imagination is applied 

to see them with fresh eyes!

 

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Recycled Concrete Flooring

Being environmentally friendly and aware is important in this age of increasing waste, greenhouse gases, and diminishing resources.  Where possible recycled materials should be used and one material that is great for flooring is recycled concrete.  Here’s some more information.

What is Recycled Concrete Flooring?

Recycled concrete flooring is concrete flooring that utilises waste materials in its manufacture. For example, it could be poured concrete floors (such as concrete slabs) that use batch plant wastes, waste window glass and fly ash as aggregates.  You can even use recycled concrete as the aggregate for the new concrete.  It could also be in the form of concrete pavers made using fly ash and laid to create beautiful outdoor floors.  These wastes would otherwise be disposed of or go to landfill and recycling these to create new concrete that is much more environmentally friendly and cleaner.
Another form of recycled concrete flooring is to use broken up slabs as a paving material, much in the same way that you would use slate pavers.  You can create interesting patterns and designs that look at home in your outdoor area and bring a real feeling of charm.  The only requirement is that the pieces of concrete are the same thickness is that you don’t have to dig your base to different depths to get a level surface.

Using Recycled Concrete Flooring

Recycled concrete flooring is a great option for exterior or interior floors.  You can apply colours to the surface if you wish to have colours other than drab grey, and use sealers and waxes to bring out the shine and effect in the concrete.  Colouring processes include acid staining, applying paint, and using coloured sealants.  Non slip properties can be added to your sealant to make the floor safer.

Coloured concrete - pattern

Primary School, Brighton




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