The American Chemistry Council (ACC) and Ocean Recovery Alliance have introduced two new tools aimed at helping communities around the globe evaluate their potential to adopt plastics-to-fuel technologies.A growing number of experts believe that harnessing more non-recycled plastics to create valuable fuels and manufacturing feedstocks could help dramatically reduce ocean litter and deliver economic and environmental benefits to local communities.
The “2015 Plastics-to-Fuel Developers Guide” and “Cost Estimating Tool for Prospective Project Developers” in Microsoft Excel were designed to help potential investors, developers, and community leaders determine whether this rapidly growing family of technologies could be a good fit for meeting local waste management needs and local demand for the relevant commodities. Available at no cost, these tools provide for the first time an exploration of available commercial technologies, operational facilities, and things to consider when developing a business plan.
Also known as “pyrolysis,” today’s plastics-to-fuel technologies are versatile and can be designed to match local conditions. Depending on the specific technology chosen, they can manufacture a variety of products, including synthetic crude or refined fuels for home heating; ingredients for diesel, gasoline, and kerosene; or fuel for combined heat and power for industrial uses.
“We are excited to introduce these new tools,” says Doug Woodring, Director and co-founder of Ocean Recovery Alliance. “Sustainable materials management is largely a local issue, but one with important global implications. Our goal is to give communities and government leaders the tools they need to make good decisions that meet local needs. These new technologies can help mitigate the flow of plastic resources into our communities, our waters, and the ocean.”
Adds Steve Russell, ACC’s Vice President of Plastics, “Modern plastics-to-fuel technologies are a critical tool to recapture the value in materials that otherwise would be destined for landfill.”
