Reducing Landfill Waste
The Roles of Plastic-to-Energy Conversion, Chemical-Free Cleaning, and Surface Preparation Technologies
Landfills pose a considerable threat to our environment. With the world producing approximately 300 million tons of plastic waste annually, of which only 9% is recycled, our landfills and oceans are rapidly filling up with non-biodegradable waste [2]. This growing problem demands efficient and effective solutions. Among these are the promising technologies of plastic-to-energy conversion, chemical-free cleaning, and surface preparation.
Plastic-to-Energy Conversion
A Promising Route for Recycling Plastic Waste
Chemical recycling, which involves converting plastic waste into fuels, has recently been deemed the most promising method for addressing the global plastic waste crisis. This is due to its significant potential to drastically reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills, thereby mitigating environmental damage.
The current technology for chemical recycling requires extremely high temperatures, exceeding 300°C, which makes it costly and inefficient. However, researchers from Washington State University have discovered a more efficient method that can improve the efficiency of chemically recycling plastic waste. By using a combination of ruthenium metal and carbon as catalysts, they found that 90% of plastic waste could be converted into fuel in just one hour, at a significantly lower temperature of 220°C.
Such discoveries not only provide a more efficient method of recycling plastics but also a potential avenue for creating a new energy source. This not only promises to help reduce landfill waste, but it also contributes to the global transition towards more sustainable energy.
Chemical-Free Cleaning and Surface Preparation Technologies
Towards a Zero Waste Society
While the conversion of plastic waste into energy is an effective way of managing plastic waste, another crucial step towards reducing landfill waste is to reduce the generation of waste in the first place. This requires innovative technologies that allow for efficient use and re-use of resources, thus minimizing the generation of waste.
Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA), for instance, is dedicated to managing the water-energy-waste nexus to achieve a resource-efficient and zero waste society. Singapore's Zero Waste Masterplan aims to increase the overall recycling rate to 70% and reduce waste-to-landfill per capita per day by 30% by 2030.
To this end, the development of chemical-free cleaning and surface preparation technologies is of great relevance. By avoiding the use of harmful and often non-reusable chemicals, these technologies promise to reduce the amount of hazardous waste that often ends up in landfills. Moreover, surface preparation technologies that are designed for re-use and recycling can significantly reduce waste generation.
Overall, plastic-to-energy conversion, chemical-free cleaning, and surface preparation technologies represent important steps in the ongoing journey towards a zero waste society. These innovative solutions not only help reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, but they also contribute to broader sustainability goals, such as energy efficiency and the protection of our ecosystems. The journey towards a zero waste society is a challenging one, but with technological advancements and strategic planning, it is an achievable goal.