Living in a closed cycle

New Albion's circle of life: "All roads lead to New Haven".

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[Foreboding orchestral music]
[Gustav Holst: Mars, the Bringer of War]
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[Music]
[Elgar: Pomp and Circumstance (Land of Hope and Glory)]
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This is New Albion on Mars
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Almost all organic material inside New Albion
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arrived here from Earth.
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New Albion's viability depends on
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keeping that material active in a closed cycle.
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For that reason, there are neither rubbish dumps nor graveyards on New Albion -
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everything is recycled.
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Some recycling at New Albion is similar to that on Earth.
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For example, water is recovered from drains and
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converted back into potable water.
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Some recycling circles are larger than others.
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We convert some waste water back into potable water directly,
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as Singapore on Earth does with NEWater.
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Most of our waste water - as for most of Earth -
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is currently directed through 'natural' compartments
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where plant and animal life act on the water
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as a first stage of treatment.
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Solid organic waste is likewise directed as much as possible
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through 'natural' cycles, as feeds, composts and fertilisers,
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which produce food, textiles and some construction material for the colony.
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The colony possesses small-circle organic waste recycling equipment
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which can reduce the time and space needed to
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convert solid organic waste to solid nourishment.
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The equipment is used mainly for research,
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its perfectly nutritious product being
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unpopular with colonists even as emergency rations.
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Inorganic waste or no-longer-wanted items are collected and
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taken to dedicated recycling areas,
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known collectively to colonists as 'New Haven'.
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Reusable items or parts are offered for free
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to colonists who can find a use for them.
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Inorganic waste that's difficult to reuse or recycle
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is subjected to more complex treatments to recover any useful material,
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and the remainder rendered safe and combined with a compost stream.
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Colonists are themselves part of the circle of life at New Albion.
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There are no graves to mark 'end of life' at New Albion;
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our closed cycle means past colonists are always with us.
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At New Albion we say "all roads lead to New Haven"!
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[Dissonant clashing orchestral music]
[Gustav Holst: Mars, the Bringer of War]
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[orchestral music continues]