In episode 117 of the Permaculture Vine Podcast, Cormac Harkin is joined by Graham Towerton from Permaculture Canada. Graham chats about the Recircled project, working with waste from the textile industry, and developing processes that turn carbon-based materials into fuel, electricity, and biochar. Free Site Observation Guide → https://vinepermaculture.com/start/Learn how to understand your property before you plant, build, or spend money.Get a design from Permaculture Canada:https://permaculturecanada.world/shop/?ref=etcvdgzj The Scale of Waste in the Fashion Industry Graham shares that his work with Recircled began after being invited to join as a consulting engineer, later becoming director of engineering. The project focuses on the large volume of waste produced by the fashion and textiles industry, which he explains is around 93 million tonnes per year globally . This includes overproduction, manufacturing waste, and materials like cotton, wool, leather, and synthetics. From Labour-Heavy Recycling to Molecular Breakdown The conversation explores how earlier efforts to recycle clothing by taking items apart and repurposing them were technically possible but not financially viable due to the labour involved . This led to a shift toward breaking materials down further into their original molecular components. The current approach uses high-pressure and high-temperature processes to convert carbon-based waste into usable outputs. Turning Waste Into Fuel, Gas, and Biochar These outputs include liquid fuels, gas for electricity production, and biochar. Graham explains that a significant portion of the process yield can be liquid fuels, which can be refined into different fuel types used in transportation . Another key output is biochar, which is produced when working with biomass-based materials such as cotton or leather. Biochar as a Functional Output The episode goes deeper into the role of biochar and its applications. It is described as having many uses, including soil improvement, water treatment, and nutrient retention. The discussion highlights how biochar can absorb nutrients and microbes when combined with materials like manure, allowing it to act as both a fertilizer carrier and soil amendment . Processing Waste at the Source There is also a focus on how these processes can be applied at the point where waste is generated. Rather than transporting waste to landfill, systems can be integrated directly into production sites. This allows waste to be converted into energy and other outputs on-site, reducing disposal costs while creating new value streams. The conversation highlights that these systems can generate revenue through fuel production, electricity, and biochar, alongside smaller contributions from carbon credits. Graham notes that systems like this could potentially pay back their investment within a relatively short timeframe compared to traditional industrial projects . Economics and Scalability of the System The discussion also touches on scalability. The technology can operate at different scales, from smaller facilities processing limited waste volumes to much larger operations handling thousands of tonnes per day. However, it is noted that the systems are not yet suited to small residential use. Limits of the Process Limitations are also outlined, with the system only working on carbon-based materials. Materials like glass, rocks, and metals cannot be processed and must be separated beforehand. This leads into a broader point about sorting and handling waste streams before they enter the conversion process. Overall, the episode focuses on turning large-scale waste problems into usable resources. It connects industrial processes with permaculture principles by emphasizing the idea of using waste as a resource, reducing landfill, and creating systems that produce multiple outputs from a single input stream. Indigenous Knowledge and Lived Practice Due to confusion over daylight savings time changes, toward the end of the episode, Lindsay and Hue Man join the conversation from Panama after attending a tribal gathering. They describe spending time with tribal communities from across Central and South America, where people shared their ceremonies, food, music, and practical knowledge of the land . The discussion highlights how these communities identify plants and seasonal changes through patterns in the environment, such as animal behaviour, rather than formal classification systems. Language, Framing, and Permaculture They also reflect on the challenges these communities are facing, including pressure from larger external forces affecting their land and way of life . This leads into a discussion about the relationship between permaculture and indigenous knowledge, and how much of what is now described as permaculture is rooted in long-standing practices. The episode closes with a reflection on language and framing. There is a discussion about how terms like permaculture, regenerative practices, and ancestral knowledge overlap, and how these ideas are being communicated today . The conversation ties this back to applying permaculture principles beyond land-based work, into everyday life, systems, and decision-making. Get full access to Cormac Harkin at cormacharkin.substack.com/subscribe
