What if we were to stop thinking about plastic waste as something to be disposed of, and instead started thinking of it as a potential resource?

Plastics are essentially polymers made from long chains of carbon and other elements. They are relatively inexpensive to manufacture and their versatility, durability and imperviousness to water means they are used everywhere, from packaging to cars and furniture and toys.

But, because polymers and plastics are so cheap to manufacture the economic benefit of recycling can be marginal.

.      For this to work, the use of the waste polymers needed to be more cost-effective than traditional methods, while still resulting in a product of the same or even higher quality than before

Most of the existing uses for old tyres involve making low value secondary products such as asphalt, aggregate for cement, artificial reefs, footwear, plastic and rubber composites, or cushioning material in playgrounds.

 

Together with technology partner For perfect technique of ‘polymer injection’ for electric arc furnaces, this technology has so far resulted in over two million used car tyres being converted from waste into a valuable feedstock for steel production.

The technology has also been licensed to steel makers, enabling high quality steel products to be produced more economically and with less energy, while at the same time reducing the environmental problems of waste tyre disposal.

By: Analiza S. Manalansan | MT-I | J.C. Payumo Memorial High School | Dinalupihan, Bataan