Brunel continued its domination of the Dyson Awards with 2015 product design graduate James Seers’ final year project – a domestic kitchen waste pipe which traps oil and grease for recycling as biodiesel – shortlisted for the international prize after becoming the UK runner up.
His success reveals an astonishing run of success in the design Oscars for Brunel after alumnus Sam Etherington won the 2013 award with a wave-powered electricity generator and Solveiga Pakstaite the 2014 competition with her bioreactive food label.
Said James, 23, from Kingston: “Incorrectly disposing of fat, oil and grease down the kitchen sink leads to the formation of so-called “fatbergs” in sewers with an annual cost of £15million to clear them.
“My design uses a passive hydrodynamic filter system to separate out these substances and store them for recycling. The Berglar simply replaces the traditional U bend kitchen waste pipe.”
Already featured in an article in The Guardian, James is working on a dedicated website as he seeks a commercial partner to develop the product further and bring it to market.