Gotimplora - water saving device

The Gotimplora, the Reusable liquid container

A subsidy has been granted to a project which will allow the saving of 2 million liters of water, which will mean a saving productions of 25,000 kilos of plastics 

The Catalan Waste Agency has subsidized the design, manufacture and distribution of a recyclable plastic container with a cup in its base, known as a "gotimplora" (cup + Flask or "canteen"). The product is an initiative of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB).

The objective of the gotimplora is to promote the use of recyclable containers among the university community and find an alternative to disposable plastic bottles and cups. 35,000 of these recyclable containers were distributed among students, teaching and administration staff during the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 courses. The Catalan Waste Agency has contributed some 100,000 euros to the project.

The gotimplora is apt for food product usage, it has an Ergonomic design and is made using plastic materials which have a longer than normal useful Lifespan. It can be used for both hot and cold drinks and it is highly heat-resistant. Both its physical characteristics and its design mean that both the cup and the bottle can be used many times over.

To facilitate use, the cup can be used in machines which serve hot coffee and other drinks which have been activated for use without a cup. Both the cup and the bottle can be easily filled using different types of water outlet.

The massive substitution of liquid containers by the UAB gotimplora could mean savings of some 2 million liters of water, while production in plastic savings would total over 25,000 kg, helping to reduce CO2 emissions into the atmosphere by 232.6 tonnes. 

Recycle your garden waste.

Ever wondered what happens to the organic waste taken to the local authority waste collection points?

 Here in Spain after being turned into compost it is bagged and sold to the public, the cost of a 50 litre bag is €3.60; cheaper than the ordinary commercial stuff which is around €7 for a similar bag. It is very fiberous and  adds much needed bulk to the top layer of soil.

We hope to generate our own compost as we develop the garden though we have a long way to go yet before we will be self sufficient.

Fortunately for us many Mediterranean garden plants will thrive on poor soil given a little help in the early seasons.

Rooted cuttings

This is an example of an aloe plant that somebody else discarded. When I found it it was just a broken stem but after six weeks has developed a healthy root system. The flowers when they come are quite striking orange spikes on a yellow base not unlike the red hot poker plant.

Something for the weekend.

Saturday and Sunday morning around here is garden time. In Empuriabrava the villa owners are preparing for the new season. Their gardens are receiving a lot of attention from the pruning saw and the waste generated provides an opportunity for be to take cuttings for an attempt at propagation. I visit each week to buy my English newspapers and combine my visit with a foraging expedition.

Aloe Arborecens featured strongly in my collection this week with it´s spiky succulent leaves forming a loose clump the plant is adorned by a large single red flower atop a central stem.

I also rescued a three foot section of a Yucca.

Salvage and recycling plants

The end of the tourist season has arrived and summer visitors are preparing their homes for the winter. Gardens are being overhauled and foliage cut back to rejuvenate tired looking plants for next year. The waste generated by this process has presented me with an opportunity to try and strike some late cuttings, from that waste material.

Some of the material I collected does not look very promising but if only a fraction of plants survive it will have been a worth while venture.