Tyler Eglen used to have more free time.
But now he spends his time on a passionate topic: plastics.
As the assistant project manager of Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Services at Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Lab, Eglen has great hopes and dreams, hoping to revitalize recycling through the Arizona State University Tempe campus innovation program.
“When I learned that our plastic recycling rate in the United States was less than 9%, I knew a new solution was needed,” Eglen said before the National Recycling Day celebrated on November 15 each year, aiming to encourage people to buy recycled Products and recycle more. "This is what motivated me to go directly to ASU and start our plan."
Last year, when Eglen was a graduate student, he enrolled in the first graduate immersion course in the Student Design Studio of the Office of Applied Innovation. His professional ethics and intention to do something special in sustainable development attracted the attention of several people including Michelle Govani.
"We support Taylor's work through stipends, help connect and collaborate with other units at Arizona State University, as well as weekly guidance and seminars," said Gowani, senior director of strategy and partnerships at the Office of Applied Innovation. "Taylor embodies the way ASU works well—bringing across disciplines and unit boundaries, bringing people together, and revolving around a common goal that is consistent with the charter."
One of Eglen's goals is to open Precious Plastic's student organization chapter at ASU. Since 2014, the award-winning Precious Plastic community has approximately 80,000 people and approximately 1,000 chapters worldwide.
A trash bin filled with plastic made of high-density polyethylene is separated for use in the plastic shredder. Charlie Wright/Arizona State University Press Photography
The ASU chapter was established in 2020 and consists of approximately 40 students. They use social participation, a set of semi-industrial plastic processing machines and education to enable people to clean up and recycle plastics and consider adopting a zero-waste lifestyle.
“I received US$5,000 from the Zero Waste Sustainability Program Revolving Fund. They encouraged me to create this student-run organization to support sustainability work, and this is how it started,” Eglen said. "We used the money to make a plastic shredder at ASU's School of Design."
Eglen said that the club collects plastic products from the campus, tears them into "sheets", and puts them in an extruder to make new products. One of these products is plastic wood, which is commonly used in park benches and porches and playgrounds.
Tyler Eglen of ASU showed some pieces of plastic called flakes. The collected plastic was shredded in the basement of the Design North building on the Tempe campus, and then passed through the extruder in Eglen's home to make new products. Charlie Wright/Arizona State University Press Photography
"Plastic wood is a great solution for wood because the price of wood is soaring," said Eglen, who spends about 6 to 8 hours a week on the club business. "It reduces waste and is more durable than wood."
At present, the business scale of the group is small and working hours are intensive.
"Recycling is a tough job," said Johna Yolo, a fourth-year student in human systems engineering who is the head of the club's processes. "It's difficult, it's labor-intensive, and our current scale is almost unrewarding. But I think we are at the tip of the iceberg — have the potential to do great things."
The hard work mentioned by Yolo cannot be underestimated. About 66 milk jugs must be shredded and melted to make an 8-foot-long plastic wooden beam. Of course, this has not considered collecting materials from the trash can, separating them, scraping off the labels and screwing the caps, and thoroughly cleaning them before recycling.
Tyler Eglen removes plastic from the shredder. Charlie Wright/Arizona State University Press Photography
The team collects materials by regularly collecting materials at the university and what is left by zero waste: plastic utensils, straws, 3D printer filaments, food containers, take-away cups, plastic signs, soda bottles, cosmetic containers, medicine bottles and even 5-gallon restaurants Of barrels.
According to Michael Brady, a fourth-year civil engineering major, there are plans to step out of the university walls and start collecting in Mesa, focusing on apartment buildings.
"Approximately 60% of the apartment buildings in Phoenix are recycled," said Brady, the club's head of engineering. "We may influence the community in ways that no one else can. The potential is great."
Brady said that Precious Plastic can help the community in many ways. He hopes that one day they can make plastic bricks to make homeless shelters, durable water bottles, clips, and office furniture for ASU, and maybe even create a retail component to make their club self-sustaining.
This small and heavy table is made by Precious Plastic @ ASU using recycled plastic forks, knives and spoons. Charlie Wright/Arizona State University Press Photography
With all the progress made by the club, the public still needs to be educated about recycling, especially consumption. Samantha Esparza said that she is a second-year student in sustainability and he is Head of club outreach and communication
"Plastic affects the environment, and we must find a way to educate people about their lifestyle and consumption habits," she said. "Most people of our age want to understand sustainability, so the real challenge is to find out what they already know and what they are interested in practicing sustainability."
Esparza says this usually means leading by example.
Esparza said: "One time we conducted an audit in front of the student services building, and we were actually digging useful plastic in the trash can." "I think we showed that we really care about our world."
Precious Plastic @ ASU holds a plenary meeting on the first Thursday of each month, as well as working meetings throughout the week, including plastic crushing, machine design and manufacturing. All majors are welcome, especially those looking for apex cooperation. Interested students can find the club through Sun Devil Sync.
For more information, please visit Precious Plastic @ ASU.
Above: On November 1, Johna Yolo (left), a fourth-year student in human systems engineering, and Nadya Soekardono, a fourth-year chemistry student, put empty bottles into the plastic shredder in the basement of the Design North building on the Tempe campus. Charlie Wright/Arizona State University Press Photography
480-727-5176 marshall.terrill@asu.edu
This year's Sol Power Hip Hop Festival at Arizona State University will cooperate with the ASU Symphony Orchestra to host one of its special events. The five-day free community event includes DJs, emcees, live music and graffiti artists. This is an unlikely alliance and dancers. It culminates on Saturday, November 20. The main event is the hip-hop community in the Phoenix area. A one-day celebration,...
This year's Sol Power Hip-Hop Festival at Arizona State University will host a special event in cooperation with the ASU Symphony Orchestra, which is unexpectedly combined.
The five-day free community event includes DJs, emcees, live music, graffiti artists and dancers. It will be held on Saturday, November 20. The main event is a one-day celebration of the hip-hop community in the Phoenix area, focusing on 3 pairs 3 battles and choreography battles. This year, the main event also includes cooperation with the Arizona State University Symphony Orchestra. Sol Power Hip Hop Festival at Arizona State University Tempe. Download the full image
In the performance on the evening of November 20th, internationally renowned graffiti artists Lalo Cota and Thomas “Breeze” Marcus will create art in real time outside the Nelson Fine Arts Plaza, and the ASU Symphony Orchestra will premiere Carlos Simon’s “Graffiti” in the live audience. In ASU Gammage. Simon is currently the composer in residence at the Kennedy Center and the recipient of the 2021 Sphinx Excellence Award. The performance will be broadcast live at each location, so the audience of ASU Symphony will watch the work of graffiti artists in real time, while the audience gathered in Galvin Plaza will be able to hear and watch the symphony performance.
Geoffrey Meyer, director of the Orchestra of the School of Music, Dance and Drama, said: "The strong thing is that we are on the same stage and find common ground in our different disciplines, cultures and art forms." "I hope through collaboration. It can enrich these two experiences."
The popular hip-hop festival offers free performances, exhibitions and competitions. According to the Sol Power AZ website, “Sol Power is a great opportunity to celebrate cultural and creative wisdom within communities of color.”
The event was originally founded by Richard Mook and Melissa Britt, named Urban Sol, and was held outdoors in Phoenix. Bringing it to Arizona State University created more student and faculty participation. This year's festival is directed by Jorge "House" Magana and LaTasha Barnes, assistant professors at the ASU School of Music, Dance and Drama, who both teach ASU's groundbreaking hip-hop dance courses.
"We have a dual mission," Magana said. "We want to expose our students to this culture and connect them with what they learn in the classroom. We want to introduce the external community to the ASU campus."
The community can participate in activities throughout the week until the main event. On Tuesday, November 16, Samuel Peña, the Community Engagement Coordinator of the School of Music, Dance, and Drama hosted the "Tune at Noon" at Nelson Fine Arts Plaza. On Wednesday afternoon, in collaboration with the La Briola Center of the Hayden Library, Aboriginal DJs and dancers will be invited to participate, including artists Tomahawk Bang (Onk Akimel O'odham), Randy B. (Diné) and DJ Reflekshin (Diné) .
Friday night will be the dedication of Room 28 of the Nelson Fine Arts Center as Marcus White’s dance studio to commemorate White’s important role as a dance faculty member at Arizona State University. He dedicated his career to the heritage of black people. Radical tradition. White died unexpectedly in May 2020. The evening will also commemorate the dance student and friend Armani Morten, who died in December 2019. Details, Tuesday, November 16
Noon Noon-1 pm tune of Nelson Fine Arts Plaza
Bring your lunch, bring your friends, join our square outside the Nelson Fine Arts Center, and enjoy an afternoon of music and dancing. Wednesday, November 17
Native American Tradition Month Labriola Pre-Jam 11 am to 2 pm West Terrace of Hayden Library in collaboration with Arizona State University’s Herberg School of Design and Art and the Phoenix hip-hop community, Sol Power Project and Labriola Center will host one The dance code A cypher is that dancers form a circle and dance in the center in turns. At Hayden Library, there are indigenous DJs, dancers and artists Tomahawk Bang (Onk Akimel O'odham), Randy B. (Diné) and DJ Reflekshin (Diné). This cross-cutting event aims to creatively engage the ASU community in the transformative power of hip-hop culture and enhance modern indigenous expressions. Friday, November 19
In collaboration with ASU’s Herberger School of Design and Art and the Phoenix hip-hop community, the Sol Power project and Labriola Center will host a dance code. The password is that the dancers form a circle and dance in the center in turns. At Hayden Library, there are indigenous DJs, dancers and artists Tomahawk Bang (Onk Akimel O'odham), Randy B. (Diné) and DJ Reflekshin (Diné). This cross-cutting event aims to creatively engage the ASU community in the transformative power of hip-hop culture and enhance modern indigenous expressions.
Hip Hop Question 10:30 am Margaret Gissolo Dance Theater, Bulldog Hall
Join our casual morning meeting, through discussion and community interaction, you can meet Sol Power guest artist "Ivan the Urban Action Figure".
Marcus White Dance Studio dedicated 6 pm Nelson Fine Arts Center, Room 28
The School of Music, Dance and Drama repurposed Room 28 of the Nelson Fine Arts Center as a Marcus White Dance Studio. Dedication will provide an opportunity to reflect on White’s role as a dance program faculty member at Arizona State University, and his career dedicated to working for the heritage of black radical traditions and telling the truth to power. Please join us as we reflect on his role as a movement maker, mentor, activist, artist and scholar, and honorary friend and student Armani Moten who died in 2019. We appreciate the generous donation that made this possible. For information on donating to the Marcus White Dance Studio Fund, please visit musicdancetheatre.asu.edu/giving/marcus-white. Saturday, November 20
Sol Power main event 2-10 pm Nelson Fine Arts Plaza
This free community event is hosted by ASU’s School of Music, Dance and Drama and is attended by DJs, hosts, graffiti artists, dancers and musicians. This day includes a 3-on-3 dance battle that is open to students and the community, as well as a choreography battle that gives everyone the opportunity to share and demonstrate their skills.
"Graffiti" and ASU Symphony Orchestra 7:30 pm ASU Gammage
As part of this year’s celebration, the Arizona State University Symphony Orchestra will premiere Carlos Simon’s "Graffiti", created in real time by internationally renowned graffiti artists. The ASU Symphony performance will be performed at ASU Gammage, while graffiti artists will create at Nelson Fine Arts Plaza. Each event will be broadcast live in another location. The ASU Symphony performance was part of the Gammage concert, which began with the premiere of "FraKture", a new work by the ASU composer and Professor Garth Paine, which included the sound amplified by the audience’s own mobile phone as an orchestral landscape Part. The concert will also invite the 2020 ASU Concerto Competition winner pianist John Solar to play Ravel’s American Jazz Club-style "Left-Handed Piano Concerto", and will be full of energy with Arturo Marquez The end of the "2nd Dansong". Tickets for this event must be purchased in advance through the ASU Gammage box office.
Please note: All events are open to the public. Participants must agree to abide by ASU policies. At present, according to CDC's guidelines for colleges and universities, the indoor performance venues of the School of Music, Dance and Drama are required to wear face masks, and it is strongly encouraged to wear face masks in outdoor venues when physical distance cannot be maintained. We ask you to monitor for cold/flu/COVID-19-like symptoms and stay at home if you are unwell. Our safety policy allows performers to take off their masks during performances because they often test and monitor their health.
Media and Communication Coordinator, School of Music, Dance and Drama
480-727-5550 lacychaffee@asu.edu