There really isn’t a good way to dispose of a wind turbine once its 20-30 years of service ends. After all, at 30,000 pounds and 300 feet long, they aren’t that easy to recycle and nearly 5,000-8,000 blades are retired each year. Most often, the spinning arms are sentenced to the unfavorable fate of incineration or life in a landfill — until now.
Canvus is out to rewrite the fate of these retired blades, repurposing them into functional pieces of art. In August, the Rocky River company launched a line of 11 models, which consist of benches, tables and planters.
Companies donate replaced windmill blades to Canvus, which uses their natural shape to form the base of the bench or planter. The blades are then combined with the other retired materials gathered by the company (composite lumber, recycled rubber and mixed plastics) to complete elements of the benches and table tops.
“That retired wind turbine blade had a former life, generating energy for people’s homes,” says Brian Donahue, a managing partner of Canvus.
While one could see the smaller Willow bench built into a high-end, backyard landscape design, the company’s products — such as the Beacon, a 96-by-135-inch bench that costs on average $2,500-$9,500 and offers signage and 360-degree seating, or the Carole, a 96-inch-long picnic table — are intended for public spaces.
“That’s really where our products belong, out in open spaces for everyone out there to enjoy,” says Donahue. “Some cities have spaces that could be great with a little love from Canvus products and a little love from the community to spruce it up.”
To show just how well its products work in a public space, Canvus launched a donor program in August. Now, two teardrop-shaped Willow benches adorn the entrance of the Great Lakes Science Center. The two benches were painted by Cleveland artists Eileen Dorsey, who depicted a treescape on hers, and Garrett Weider, who created a flock of mushrooms. The company has plans to install at least 10 more products in other locations.
“Honestly, it’s a little surreal because it’s one of those spaces you stop by if you’re touring the city, right? It’s exciting,” says Dorsey, who is best known for her colorful paintings, about her bench being placed at the Great Lakes Science Center. “It’s nice to have my artwork around. It feels like having a little piece of home
everywhere.”
Canvus products can be expected to continue to pop up around Cleveland, with the brand’s next installation planned for Willard Park, which the company hopes to outfit exclusively with Canvus products.
“We are really supporting all spaces in Cleveland, obviously being our backyard,” says Donahue. “We love to be present here and want as many products as possible here.”
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