Konstruktio Lamp

Further look into construction waste and how to extend the life of worn-out drill batteries.

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The construction industry is starting to see a domination of lithium-ion battery tools as their development has significantly advanced in the last few years. Workers can use their cordless tools for extended periods before recharging, and health and safety favour the elimination of power cords draping all over a site. However, these batteries are given a lifecycle of an approximate number of charges before the battery can no longer hold its charge to facilitate the tool (around 300-500 charges on a Makita 18V battery.).

“Polystyrene is another problematic waste product. I encountered it during the second fix of building work. The second fix consists of building work after the internal plastering is done; this is where many final products come into position, such as bathroom accessories, kitchens, doors, furniture, and more. Many of these products come packaged securely to avoid damage, which is where polystyrene is utilised. Polystyrene is not recyclable; interestingly, it comprises 98% air and only 2% plastic. I have mixed it with acetone, which melts the polystyrene and releases the air, leaving a silky white paste that I combined with sawdust to create a lampshade.

Powering the light came in the form of drill batteries. When working, you would notice that different batteries were used for varying stages of their life, and some would only hold their charge for short periods and even provide less performance for the tool. This meant it was only a matter of time before these batteries ended up in a landfill.”

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