Could you imagine living in an old airplane in the middle of the forest? It's actually hard to imagine - and yet there is a man who does just that. Find out the incredible story of Bruce Campbell here.
Could you imagine living in an old airplane in the middle of the forest? It's actually hard to imagine - and yet there is a man who does just that. Find out the incredible story of Bruce Campbell here.
If we really want to tackle the climate crisis and create new ways of living more sustainably, we need to challenge conventional thinking - in all areas of life. That's what Bruce Campbell has done. By converting a decommissioned airplane into his home in Oregon (USA), Bruce has shown us a whole new perspective on recycling.
Have you ever thought about what happens to old airplanes that are no longer in use? While they are largely made of recyclable materials, many of them are not fully or properly recycled and end up as waste. With a little imagination and willpower, the potential for recycling and reusing airplanes could be an amazing opportunity.
Some remarkable statistics about old airplanes:
- The average service life of an aircraft is approx. 25-30 years
- An average of 3 aircraft are taken out of service every day
- Airlines often offer recyclable parts for sale
- Storing a decommissioned aircraft costs around $60,000 per month
- There are several scrap yards in the USA where old aircraft parts are recycled
- It is estimated that around 12,000 aircraft will be decommissioned over the next 20 years
- Between 80-95% of an aircraft can be recycled
- Plastic panels and luggage racks inside the aircraft are the most difficult to recycle
- Around 500 aircraft are dismantled every year, and the number is expected to rise to around 2,000 per year by 2030
- Recycling decommissioned aircraft costs around 80 million dollars per year
- The Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association produces around 30,000 tons of aluminium, 1,800 tons of special alloys and 600 tons of other parts every year
- The new challenge: Modern aircraft made of carbon fiber have better fuel efficiency, but there is no safe way to recycle aircraft made of this material yet
- Because the cost of recycling airplanes is so high, some are simply left to rust and die without being recycled
How does the recycling process work?
The recycling process takes place at a special scrap yard where, as a first step, all valuable components and hazardous materials are carefully removed, followed by an assessment of which parts can be resold. The aircraft is then broken down into its individual parts, with the non-recyclable parts being pressed together and sent to an aircraft graveyard.
What is the potential of recycled aircraft?
Not only did Bruce plant lots of trees around the property, but he also found a way to build an airplane into his house. And while that may not be a practical choice for everyone, it begs the question, why can't we turn airplanes into all sorts of things? Restaurants, AirBnB's, children's playhouses, stores... why not? All it takes is some creative thinking and commitment. More sustainability is possible if we dare to try.
© This blog was researched, written and published by our partner organization OneTreePlanted. The content was taken from NIKIN and translated. The blog may contain some deviations from the original. You can find the original blog and more information at www.onetreeplanted.org. We have been working with the renowned non-profit organization since 2016 - so far we have been able to plant over 300,000 trees in various places around the world.
