Plastic bags have become the bane of our existence. They pollute our waterways, get tangled in trees and bushes, and take hundreds of years to break down into smaller pieces. But Japanese inventor Akinori Ito created a machine that converts the ubiquitous plastic annoyance into fuel. The carbon negative system is now being sold by Ito’s Blest Corporation.
Ito’s inspiration for the method came from the simple realization that plastic bags are created from oil, thus they should be able to be converted back to their original form. The highly efficient, non-polluting machines can process polyethylene, polystyrene and polypropylene but not PET bottles, and they can convert 2 lbs. of plastic into a quart of oil using just 1 kilowatt of power. The machine heats the plastic with electricity, then traps the vapors, which it then cools and condenses into crude oil. The crude oil can be used to heat generators and some stoves, and when refined, it can be used for gasoline.
When he first created the process last summer, Ito explained that by converting plastic into oil, we eliminate CO2 pollution and raise the awareness of plastic’s fuel potential. When plastic is burned — a common way to recover potential energy sources — it generates a large amount of toxins and CO2.
While the end product is still a fuel that will be burned and give off CO2, the innovative recycling method could revolutionize the way certain plastics are treated. Because the system is made for households, it could create an energy independence among consumers, and lessen the need to extract more oil from the earth.
Unfortunately, the machine currently retails for about $10,000. But Ito hopes to bring that price down by increased production once the product becomes more widespread.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Each year America uses 380 million plastic bags and only 7 percent of them are recycled. If we can convert the everyday product into a source of fuel, it would greatly decrease the amount of plastic piling up in landfills.
Via CleanTechnica
8 Responses to “Japanese Inventor Akinori Ito Creates Machine That Converts Plastic Bags into Fuel”
get the free Inhabitat newsletter
more popular stories >
more popular stories >
more popular stories >
See the video about this invention on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-Lg_kvLaAM
Is the Blest machines available to buy? Is there an opportunity to invest in the Blest Corporation?
Well, I like the idea very much, but the price $10000 means one has to WORK HARD to buy the miracle-machine. But, alas: hard work means hard pressure on Nature! Therefore, the machine doesn’t solve the problem. I think the processing can be cheaper. The end product shell not necessary be oil. There are other items we still need, like again – plastic items: bags, covers etc. What is very good about Dr. Ito is that he can make our planet a much cleaner and much more enjoyable place to live..
price is too muchy for developing countries!!
hi! can you tellme the price?
The article on new invention on plastic bags into fuel at home using the device named carbon negative system is appreciated by our Periyar Maniammai university,Thajavur, Tamilnadu, India.We are in need of plastic recycling instrument to cater the need of University. If it is availale withyou send working method Salient details and also quotation for the same for our reference.
By CE PMU
Are there plans to make an industrial sized unit that can process large amounts of plastic?
Estou apaixonada pela invenção do Sr. Akinori Ito. Ele merece o prêmio Nobel. Sou brasileira e muito interessada na máquina que re-converte plástico em petróleo. Como faço para trazer um exemplar para o Brasil? Participo de uma instituição que, entre outras coisas, promove educação ambiental, e essa invenção do Sr. Akinori Ito é muito importante para nós. Por favor, não deixem de responder.
Muito obrigada.
Maria Alice.