The Washington-based American Chemistry Council (ACC) and the Ocean Recovery Alliance, with offices in Los Angeles and Hong Kong, have introduced two new tools aimed at helping communities evaluate their potential to adopt plastic to fuel technologies. The ACC says a growing number of experts believe that harnessing more nonrecycled plastics to create fuels and manufacturing feedstocks could help reduce ocean litter and benefit local communities.
The “2015 Plastics-to-Fuel Developers Guide” and “Cost Estimating Tool for Prospective Project Developers” 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, the ACC says. Available at no cost, these tools provide an exploration of available commercial technologies, operational facilities and things to consider when developing a business plan.
According to ACC, current plastics-to-fuel technologies, such as pyrolysis, are versatile and can be designed to match local conditions. Depending on the specific technology chosen, processors 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, the ACC says.
“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, waters and the ocean.”
“Modern plastics-to-fuel technologies are a critical tool to recapture the value in materials that otherwise would be destined for landfill,” says Steve Russell, ACC’s vice president of plastics.
ACC and the Ocean Recovery Alliance announced the tools at the fourth annual Plasticity Forum held June 8-9 in Cascais, Portugal.
Article source: http://www.recyclingtoday.com/acc-ocean-recovery-plastics-fuel-pyrolysis.aspx