By Melissa Taguchi, CELT Virtual Intern
Garbage accumulation is a growing problem in the world because we are running out of places to dispose of it. Landfills are overflowing and nations are under great pressure to find a solution. Is it possible to make a useful product out of something as disposable as trash?
Akinori Ito, CEO of the Japanese company Blest, thinks so. Ito has designed an innovative machine that could drastically lower the amount of trash in landfills by converting plastics back into oil.[i] This oil can then be burned directly or used for further processing into gasoline, diesel and kerosene. [ii] Ito came up with the idea when he noticed that there was an overflow of trash in his nation of Japan and all around the world, and he wanted to do something about it. Since 7% of the world’s annual oil production is used to manufacture plastic,[iii] converting that plastic back into oil would be a sustainable solution to improve the environmental footprint of this process.
Ito decided to go directly to areas around the world that are suffering the most from garbage accumulation, in order to change how they see trash. Nations such as the Marshall Islands, Republic of Benin, the Philippines, and cities such as New Orleans in the United States are all areas heavily affected by garbage accumulation. Ito has traveled to these places to give demonstrations with a portable machine to inspire people to see trash as a resource for change. He gathers children to collect plastics and visually demonstrates that plastic, although previously thought of as trash, can be turned into usable oil.[iv] He shows people how they can use his machines to locally produce oil to power tour buses or boats, houses, and personal transportation.[v]
The Blest machine was created with the final goal to be used in homes all around the world, but it is currently used on mainly an industrial scale. The machine works by heating the plastic in a temperature controlling electric heater[vi], which is safer than using a flame. The gas produced is then condensed as it passes through a pipe submerged in water, creating oil.
According to Ito, converting plastic back into oil is a better use of plastic than incineration for heat or electricity, which 52% of Japan’s plastic is utilized for. The incineration of plastic creates toxins and high CO2 emissions. In contrast, converting plastic to oil creates no toxins and emits a smaller amount of CO2. One kilogram of plastic can produce one liter of oil. But, if one kilogram of plastic is burned, it can produce three kilograms of CO2.
The plastic-to-oil machine has a lot of potential. This alternate use for plastics can provide a source for small scale, and eventually large scale, oil production from waste. It is a revolutionary process that would create more room in landfills and would also decrease the amount of CO2 emitted from the incineration of plastics. Ito has inspired people around the world to think outside of the box to find solutions to global environmental issues.
Original youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPIHJRIpLRk
Ted Talk (Japan) video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZFHzrUp6ns