Solar Voyager Heads to the South Pole

Solar Voyager, a recycling truck made of mostly recycled plastics and scrap metal, is heading to the South Pole. The truck, which will be operated by Dutch eco-adventurers Edwin and Liesbeth ter Velde, will be used to promote the use of recycled materials and the circular economy.

The duo will begin their journey at Union Glacier Camp and then drive about 1,400 miles at a maximum speed of about 6 miles per hour to the South Pole and back again. The expedition is expected to last 40 days, and the average temperature will be 50 degrees below zero.

Recycling International has more information:

An unusual truck with incredibly large, steel-reinforced tyres sits in a garage in Amsterdam, where husband-and-wife team Edwin and Liesbeth ter Velde are conducting the final tests before they leave for Antarctica. Neither has a background in recycling but both agree it’s a waste of time waiting for legislation to catch up with today’s waste generation. ‘It’s time to take action ourselves,’ says Edwin. ‘We hope to inspire other people.’

The planned trip across the Antarctic ice with Solar Voyager has already made national headlines. The recycled truck will start off at Union Glacier Camp, from where the couple expect to drive 2 300 km to the South Pole and back again.

Read the full story here.