Plastic recycling has emerged as a prominent issue in recent times, with statistics indicating that a mere 9% of plastic waste has undergone recycling. The disillusionment among the public regarding recycling stems from the belief that the majority of carefully sorted plastic deposited in recycling containers ultimately ends up in landfills or the ocean. However, a Czech company is currently undertaking trials for a new technology that has the potential to offer a solution to this persistent problem.
According to a report by NPR, the process of recycling plastic has become increasingly challenging, with the issue only exacerbating over time. The documentary “Plastic Wars” even suggested that plastic recycling is a deceptive tactic orchestrated by the plastic industry to bolster sales. Consequently, millions of tons of plastic have made their way into our waterways and oceans, ultimately posing a threat to human health in the form of microplastics.
Nonetheless, a ray of hope has emerged in the form of Green Future, a Czech company that is currently testing a pioneering methodology known as thermochemical recycling. This approach entails utilizing heat to disintegrate plastics into fundamental hydrocarbons, which can then be reused in production. Notably, the technology has the capability to process unsorted mixed plastic, thereby ensuring that virtually all types of plastic can be addressed.
Michal Pivrnec, a representative of Green Future, has provided insight into the innovation, highlighting that the process is devoid of emissions and is equipped to handle various impurities present in plastic waste. The resultant product, pyrolysis oil, is in high demand for the production of new plastics, thus rendering thermochemical recycling an economically feasible and environmentally sustainable solution.
The first thermochemical plastic recycling unit in Czechia is presently undergoing testing in Dvorce, with commercial implementation of the technology projected by the year’s end. This development marks a significant stride in combating the plastic waste crisis and instils optimism for a more sustainable future.