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Miniwiz, a pioneering design company dedicated to “taking recycled material to the highest form of product engineering”, has created a mobile, solar-powered recycling plant. Called the Trashpresso, the machine brings the capability to recycle plastic and fabric on-site to even the most remote communities. Completely functional off-grid, the machine fits inside a 40 foot container that can be trucked to a variety of locations.

Once set-up, the machine washes, shreds, melts and molds waste into tiles that can be used inside and outside. At full capacity, up to 10 square meters of tiling can be produced per hour, and each individual tile requires the equivalent of five plastic bottles. The machine’s first job will be clearing up the glacier region of NianBao Yuz, an area that has become increasingly popular with tourists (and is suffering from an ensuing increase in litter).

Turning waste into a product of value is an intriguing movement, with projects ranging from smog that has been transformed into jewelry and old clothing broken down to create airplane biofuel. How can the effectiveness of such projects be measured and industry standards set?