Aluminum Wind Turbine Makes Finals' Cut in Recycling Contest
Wind Simplicity was chosen as a finalist by the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries for its commitment to recycling in its design and manufacture of the high-efficiency, compact, noise-free Windancer™ small wind turbine.
Made mainly of recyclable aluminum and steel, the product can be easily repaired, reconditioned and recycled at the end of its long life.
“The Windancer took inspiration from the longevity of the old Dutch and prairie farm wind mills. Most wind turbine blades are made of hard-to-recycle composites that end up in landfill or incinerators. Aluminum is easy to recycle, has a cradle-to-cradle life cycle and monetary value,” said Sharolyn Vettese, inventor and chief executive officer of the company. She co-designed the Windancer with her father, Alfred Mathieu, Ph.D.
Vettese said she was delighted to receive the nomination from ISRI, which established the Design for Recycling® award to recognize excellence in design innovation that enhances the recycling of, and reduces the toxic materials incorporated within, a company’s manufactured products.
ISRI criteria for the Design for Recycling® Award include:
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a reduction in the number of different recyclable materials,
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a reduction or elimination of hazardous constituents,
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an increased yield of the product's recyclables,
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an improvement in the safety of recycling,
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a design that allows for easy disassembly for recycling.
This year Wind Simplicity was on the short list along with Cascades Fine Papers Group and Coca Cola.