Recycling Reject

DESIGN: Timothy Teven (Tim Teven Studio)

Netherlands

make me! 2019

Cellulose paper fibres can only be recycled five to seven times. After this the fibres are waste to the paper recycling industry. A single recycling plant produces up to 4000 tons of these unrecyclable fibres every year, which now end up in landfill or get burned. In ‘Recycling Reject’, Tim Teven finds a purpose for these seemingly unrecyclable fibres generated by the paper recycling industry. By shredding and drying the leftover fibres, adding a binding recipe and pigment, and then moulding under pressure. Teven creates a new hard and strong material, like natural stone with a smooth surface. Which functions as modular building blocks to build several furniture pieces such as tables, stools or shelves