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Enviro Board: The Colusa Project

A Good Idea

Description

The Colusa Project provides a cost effective, ecologically sound waste management solution to the problem of how to economically dispose of agricultural waste (rice straw) generated by rice growers in the Unites States Central California Valley. At present, incineration is the only economically feasible solution for disposing of rice straw. While inexpensive, incineration results in significant amounts of both carbon dioxide and solid waste particulates being expelled into the atmosphere. The Colusa Project introduces a patented technology that transforms rice straw into fiberboard panels that can be used as low cost building products in a variety of climates. This technology utilizes a process that yields no emissions of either carbon dioxide or particles into the atmosphere.

Goal / Mission

The mission of Enviro Board Corporation is to become the world's leading manufacturer of low-cost, environmentally friendly building panels. These durable and architecturally versatile panels will contribute significantly to a healthier environment by recycling agricultural waste, greatly reducing pollution and preserving our natural resources, while creating the ability to construct high-quality, affordable housing worldwide utilizing unskilled labor.

Results / Accomplishments

Recognizing recycling agricultural wastes into quality products such as building materials, is feasible, preferable and profitable, the Enviro Board Company believes that the Colusa Project technology can be effectively and economically introduced into any geographic area where there exists an agrarian economy with a sufficient supply of agricultural waste product. Economic units with this characteristic tend to have lower housing standards of living and no environmental legislation. Utilization of this technology allows a region to capitalize on its agricultural expertise and to increase significantly its air quality. More importantly, in the long run as the economic units evolves, this technology will contribute dramatically to increasing the standard of living by providing a means to construct low cost, utilitarian housing using local labor and materials.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Enviro Board Corporation
Primary Contact
Enviro Board Corporation
1228 South Westlake Blvd., Unit B
Westlake Village, California 91361
(805) 777-7216
http://www.enviroboard.com/
Topics
Environmental Health / Air
Organization(s)
Enviro Board Corporation
Source
UN Habitat
Date of publication
2000
Location
Colusa, CA
Santa Cruz