MTV Green Picks Recycle Machine: Expired Credit Cards Transformed Into Guitar Picks (VIDEO)

MTV Brasil unveiled a machine that can turn expired credit cards into guitar chips

The environmental perils of plastic seem to have no bounds. But now used credit cards can be given a second life as guitar picks thanks to a newly unveiled recycling machine.

The brainchild of MTV Brasil, the machine is quite simple to operate.

As demonstrated in the above YouTube video, an expired credit card is inserted into the machine and a lever is pulled. Then, like magic, a fresh guitar pick is spit out of the device.

Credit cards are often made from a mix of plastics, making them impossible to recycle, according to the sustainable packaging manufacturer BioFina Group. According to the company's blog, "if half a million people throw away an old credit card, that would make nearly 1200 pounds of plastic waste."

Creative minds are also busy turning recycled materials into art and fashion. Allison Patrick, for example, creates "Artichoke Lamps" out of recycled books, and for some, a brown paper bag makes the perfect "wear away" dress.

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Comments

[livingdangerously]

11:38 AM on 05/18/2012

Why is this news? Music stores carry pick punchers - make your own pick out of a CC. BTW the plastic on CC is not really right for great music picking.

[cameroonworks]

01:04 AM on 05/18/2012

We still use credit cards when at the gas pump, because of convenience, and for making internet purchases. But everything else is on a cash basis.

[Monk2001]

03:06 PM on 05/17/2012

This is the only connection to music this station has anymore.

[vermontcathy]

02:38 PM on 05/17/2012

This is great, but how many cards do we each have expire each year? One or two? Compare that to all the plastic we throw away from soda/juice/water bottles, prepared food packaging, grocery bags, etc. A MUCH bigger impact would be made simply by convincing people to bring their own fork to the cafeteria instead of using (and trashing) a plastic fork each time. Or using reusable grocery bags...

[icwhite02]

06:42 PM on 05/17/2012

What if you & no one you know plays the guitar? and ONE pick per card doesn't seem like much, what do you do with the rest of the card?
The plastic bottles we throw into the recycling bin are not the problem, (it's the ones that never make it there) as they are turned into FLEECE, carpeting, throw rugs, drapes, & those reusable grocery bags, which are marvelous because they hold spills so they don't destroy your car, & do not tear even when wet, but if not sprayed down with a bleach & water solution before putting them back in your car they can spread salmonella & e-coli! There are pluses & minuses to everything in life, sometimes even sex is a drag.

[CowboySandtoes]

09:52 AM on 05/17/2012

welcome my son, to the machine

[Poekicker]

07:30 AM on 05/17/2012

Where are these machines?

[icwhite02]

06:43 PM on 05/17/2012

I bet the Experience Music Project in Seattle has one! & Probably the Music Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.