Scientists transform old plastic shopping bags into vehicle fuel

[Omaha Steve]

Source: ENN.com

Researchers have discovered a method to re-use discarded shopping bags by transforming them into a fuel that can power car engines.

Scientists in India say they have developed a relatively low-temperature process to convert certain kinds of plastic waste into liquid fuel as a way to re-use discarded plastic bags and other products.

Many pundits describe the present time as the "plastic age" for good reason and as such we generate a lot plastic waste. Among that waste is the common polymer, low-density polyethylene (LDPE), which is used to make many types of container, medical and laboratory equipment, computer components and carrier bags.

Recycling initiatives are in place in many parts of the world, but much of the polyethylene waste ends up in landfill, dispersed in the environment or in the sea.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/46948

[Xyzse]

1. That sounds awesome.

[antiquie]

2. Thanks for posting.

[mopinko]

3. it has to be possible to outfit a ship to mine the gyres.

safely, of course. but really, the laws of physics state that this stuff is a bunch of potential energy. it has to be mineable. it has to be useable for something.

[bkanderson76]

4. I Am Not a Scientist But I

Can recycle this last trash bag I have by pulling it over Rand Paul's head before he gives his response tonight.

[KamaAina]

5. No you can't

it'd get snagged on his rug.

[Xyzse]

8. You're so bad...

[DetlefK]

6. The technology has been known for decades. But gas was too cheap until now.

[Duer 157099]

7. Oh great. Just when plastic-bag bans are going into effect

[tanyev]

11. Exactly.

We've started hoarding them because we use them every day for kitty litter scooping.

[Marthe48]

15. yep...

I use cloth bags when I shop, but I save all the bags I get at yard sales. For used cat litter

[truthisfreedom]

9. Why burn our natural resources? Leave them as plastic bags, save them for recycling later into more

plastic, and stop burning up our resources only to destroy the climate!

[Omaha Steve]

10. UUUMMMM

People don't recycle them now. What makes you think that will change?

But with the value of becoming fuel, that could change. Image homeless people collecting plastic like they do pop & beer cans now. More people employed to reclaim bags. This seems like a win on many levels.

[CreekDog]

12. because they create litter, they are slow to break down, and even when they do break down

they break down into smaller components that are even more destructive.

[Sunlei]

13. shame they can't start plasma gasification, turn *all* their garbage into bio fuel.

For their "low-temp. process", I envision thousands of garbage picker people, who sort out plastic bags for 1 cent a pound.

shame we still have garbage dumps on our world

[4bucksagallon]

14. This is what that recycling looks like here.

http://www.redflagmagazine.org/2011/10/sorting-through-the-mess-of-child-labor/

[Delphinus]

16. Funny,

I was just pondering this the other day - how we could utilize these bags as a fuel of some sort. Sure hope it can fly!