Running out of Sand

Estimated Costs Needed to Raise

$250,000

Received Towards Initiative

$0

Running Out of Sand

We are running out of sand for beaches, concrete and other materials we use on a daily basis. It is extremely vital in our daily lives and yet we have used up so much of it. Now we’re stuck with the consequences, and we need to find an alternative ASAP.

These are some very useful articles that detail the present situation and the crisis we are facing.

https://www.cnet.com/news/the-world-is-running-out-of-sand-and-you-need-to-care/Sand is the second most used resource in the world. We use sand for glass, concrete buildings and highways.

https://www.businessinsider.com/world-running-out-sand-resources-concrete-2018-6By 2010 two-thirds of California’s beaches will be gone. Sand is used at an alarming rate and our planet cannot keep up. We also use it in cosmetics, computer chips and much more. Concrete is comprised of over 70% sand.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/05/sand-shortage-the-world-is-running-out-of-a-crucial-commodity.html This article states that sand reduction is one of the 21st century’s greatest challenges of sustainability. It is used in high speed trains, bridges and land regeneration. That means over 40 billion tons of sand are consumed yearly. Although rarely discussed, this is a major problem.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20191108-why-the-world-is-running-out-of-sandalso discusses the damage the use of sand is causing and how scientists are trying to find alternative solutions.

The Problem with Desert Sand

Desert sand is so fine that it doesn’t adhere. Therefore, it cannot be used to make concrete. Fortunately, however, this problem has a potential solution.

Mall of Hopes Solution for the Sand Shortage

There is a good possibility that this problem can be solved by combining desert sand with used plastic containers. This would require renting test sites and extensively trying out different ratios of sand to plastic. If successful, however, we will be able to reduce the amount of plastic containers in recycling dumpsites. This process could also be used for construction of concrete and other substances.

A lot of concrete is wasted and we aim to find ways to reuse concrete- as well as other materials constructed from sand. We have a feeling that if done correctly we may be able to find a way to meld the concrete pieces back together without having to completely replace the concrete blocks. This will enable us to cut down on the resources used to make these materials.

In order to afford this we need to raise the above amount $250,000 to pay for the sand and the cost of transporting it. And then there are the costs associated with storage of the sand and plastic while we begin running tests at a rented test site.  If successful we will be able to not only cut down on the plastic in landfills, but perhaps uncover some geological history as we use some of the dessert sand to restore beaches, roads and other construction materials.

Through this process we will be able to preserve what we have now so we still have it in emergencies that may arise in the future.  And we will have created another funding source to make this nonprofit self- sustaining without having to rely heavily on donations from the general public. Sustainability is the biggest mission we have here at Mall of Hope.

 

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