Canadian company JBI is setting the recycling industry on fire with its new Plastic2Oil plants that promise to convert non-recyclable plastics into fuel.
Not only is the process eco-friendly, it’s also incredibly efficient. An 800kg load of plastics can be processed in an hour and almost 90 per cent of the plastic’s hydrocarbon content is converted into fuel. The remaining waste, about 2 per cent of the original input, can be landfilled or burned for heat.
JBI is looking to add more plants in the US and is open to running them as joint ventures with other waste management companies. The more the merrier I say as nothing is more unsightly than a dump filled with 50-year plastic. [Gizmag]
Simon
Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at 1:18 PMStick one of these alongside a plasma gasification plant and you would have just about zero waste and plenty of power
George Lee
Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at 1:57 PMCool, all they need to do now is build a boat with one of these and head out to the Pacific sargasso to clean up that plastic island floating out there.
ozoneocean
Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at 3:11 PMYay… so hydrocarbons that are basically pretty stable, if a bit of an enviro hazard, are no going to have their carbon freed up and pumped into the atmosphere?
Oh god it’s so brilliant I could die. -_-
It’s actually more environmentally responsible at the stage to bury the stuff.
These guys just want to make a cheap buck- they can get some tasty government subsidies, free up some real-estate and even sell all that new fuel.
Cpt. Pajama Shark
Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at 3:39 PMSort of agree..
I went to their site… a lot of talk, not much substance.
Which would lend itself to the idea that they are in it for a cheap buck.
Saying that, any effort to try an reduce the amount of waste plastic in the world, should be applauded.
Ben
Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at 3:44 PMOzoneocean, I’m finding it difficult to understand the substance of your argument, though I can see that you are against this operation.
They article says they are using most of the excess product to power the facility. So I dont see how they are “pumping carbon into the atmosphere”.
kami
Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at 8:29 PMEssentially you could consider the plastic as a a form of carbon storage. Ergo if you were to convert it to fuel and subsequntly burn it off, you release CO2 into the atmosphere.
olearymo
Thursday, July 7, 2011 at 8:55 AMYeah I gotta agree here. Turning plastic into petrol, which is then gonna be spewed up into the atmoshpere? I’m not sure I get it.
Kinda solving one problem by creating another. It’s the Human way! :D
hayduke
Saturday, July 9, 2011 at 9:40 AMactually, the NYDEC(new york department of conservation) did a one year audit on the processor and found the only polluting gases off it were equal or less to that of a gas furnace of the same size! the fuel is ultra clean and almost sulphur free!
kami
Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at 8:33 PMSo, turning plastic into petrol. Nikolai Tesla must be turning in his grave.
Anon
Thursday, July 7, 2011 at 2:39 AMThis process effectively turns a waste stream into a commodity. The collection of plastic will be finally incentivized. Less landfills and less discarded plastic. Millions of sea creatures everyday dying from this plight will get a leg up.
The process has emissions that are comparable to a residential gas furnace! This is a great idea. AND it’s a fully reporting publicly traded company. One of the few green techs that doesn’t hide behind an academic/grant-subsidy curtain.
olearymo
Thursday, July 7, 2011 at 8:57 AMIt took me AGES to see the dude having a nap in the picture.
I… I hope he’s napping…
DaveB
Friday, July 8, 2011 at 12:22 AMI wish people would investigate something before spouting opinions about something they know nothing about. First…..the NYSDEC has thoroughly tested and permitted this site and found that the process emits less polutants than a standard gas furnace and saves as much as 60MT/day from going to landfills. The fuel produced is ultra low sulfur diesel fuel. Which means cleaner burning than is currently being used by their clients. Looks like a win-win to me.