[Stoves] Is this a good or bad direction - Plastic in fuel

[Crispin Pemberton-Pigott]

Dear Tony

There is an example from India and Africa which is to roast the plastic in a container and it will yield a high quality oil. Without giving any details here, that is what to research.

Several methods are employed but overall it is simple and cost effective. The oil can be sold or used.

What the proponents show is that thermal decomposition of plastic is possible at a relatively low temperature.

Obviously some materials will not be suitable – polyurethanes for example – but thermoplastics will respond well.

I have not investigated this is several years but it is a well known ‘thing’ and it is something you can do with all that trash.

Here is a good start:

https://plastics.americanchemistry.com/Plastics-to-Oil/

Regards
Crispin



Dear community

The presence of plastic in found biomass in semi urban environment is increasing.
Here in Indonesia a common "disposal" technique is to dump it in the nearest stream typically off a handy nearby bridge. House trash is dragged to a pile and burnt in front of the home. Plastic and all.

The village collection site is very often "conveniently" located along the same river systems and a large percentage of the officially collected stuff goes the same route.
There is a large percentage (40-60+%) of organic material in the collected trash

I know the official way to dispose of plastic is either burial or modern incinerator systems but these are few and far between.The few official dump sites are a long way from the towns.
Can someone help me with information about better practices to handle biomass with plastic.
Is burning at village level practical - can it be done safely with little investment?
What can users do to protect themselves from the issues of plastic burning.

see attached example from Kenya of local communities using the plastic as fuel.
http://news.trust.org/item/20170621000707-y4o4g/

Would appreciate some factual feedback

Tony Vovers
+62 (813) 3888 9062 (HP)
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