Alexei Volkov
Plastic is a synthetic polymer that has become integral to our lives over the last century. However, the excessive use of petrochemical compounds and the disposal of non-biodegradable plastics without recycling have contributed to many serious environmental issues. To address these concerns, researchers have developed methods to convert plastic into fertilizer. While there is no effective way to convert petroleum-based plastics into fertilizer at home, compostable plastics formulated from plants can be added to compost and used as fertilizer. Additionally, recent advancements in technology have led to the development of machines that use anaerobic digestion to convert waste plastic into fertilizer and energy. These innovations offer promising solutions for reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainable practices.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic type | Home-compostable, biodegradable, petroleum-based, bioplastics, bio-based polymers, poly (isosorbide carbonate) |
| Plastic conversion method | Anaerobic digestion, microbial digestion, chemical recycling, ammonolysis |
| Plastic conversion time | 6 months (home-compostable plastic) |
| Plastic conversion output | Fertilizer, biogas, methane, carbon dioxide, urea |
| Plastic conversion machine | POET System |
| Plastic conversion location | Wastewater treatment plants |
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What You'll Learn
Composting plastic waste at home
Choose the Right Plastic
Not all plastics can be composted at home. Look for plastics labelled as ""home compostable" or backyard compostable. These plastics are specifically designed to break down in a compost environment and are safe to use as fertilizer. Avoid petroleum-based plastics, as they are challenging to break down and can leave behind microplastics that contaminate your compost.
Set Up Your Compost Bin
If you don't already have one, set up a compost bin in your backyard or purchase an indoor compost bin. You can find these bins at your local hardware store or online. Ensure your compost bin is easily accessible and located in a convenient spot.
Break Down Materials
Before adding any plastic waste to your compost bin, break it down into smaller pieces. Shredding or cutting the plastic into smaller strips or pieces will help speed up the decomposition process. Remember to break down other compost materials as well, such as kitchen scraps and garden waste.
Moisturize and Turn Your Compost
Regularly add water to your compost pile to keep it moist. Turning and mixing your compost pile will also help prevent unpleasant odours and keep pests away. Ensure your compost pile is adequately aerated and maintained to create an ideal environment for decomposition.
Time and Patience
Composting is a slow process, and it can take at least a year for materials to fully decompose. Be patient and continue to maintain your compost pile by adding new waste, moisture, and turning the pile occasionally. Over time, your plastic waste will break down, and you can use the compost as fertilizer for your garden.
By following these steps, you can safely compost specific types of plastic at home, reducing your environmental impact and contributing to the health of your garden. Remember always to check the labels on plastics and choose compostable options whenever possible to facilitate the composting process.
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Using anaerobic digestion technology
Anaerobic digestion is a process where bacteria break down organic matter—such as animal manure, wastewater biosolids, and food waste—in the absence of oxygen. This process takes place in a sealed vessel called a reactor, which comes in various shapes and sizes. These reactors contain complex microbial communities that break down the waste and produce biogas and digestate as byproducts.
The first systems to use anaerobic digestion technology to turn waste plastics into energy and fertilizer are being developed in South Australia by POET Systems. The technology, developed by David Thompson, has been named "POET", an acronym for Polymer-Organic-Energy-Treatment. The POET system prepares waste plastic so that microbial digestion can take place quickly, making it a potentially viable commercial opportunity.
The process involves treating plastics and water simultaneously with microbes. The microbes then die and leave behind liquid and solid biomass, which can be used as fertilizer. The biogas produced can be separated into methane and carbon dioxide. The methane can be used to create heat and energy, and the carbon dioxide can be captured and reused.
The machines are expected to process about 20 tons of plastic each week and will be installed at wastewater treatment plants. This new system will help handle plastic via microbial digestion faster and more efficiently than before, and POET hopes that this will make it commercially viable. The technology has been successfully tested with polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and expanded polystyrene—plastics that are usually not recycled and end up in landfills.
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Chemically recycling bioplastics
The term bioplastic refers to plastic that is either biomass-based, biodegradable, or has both properties. Bioplastics are derived from carbon biomass sources such as vegetable fats, cellulose, or corn starch.
Bioplastics have been experiencing tremendous growth rates in recent years. However, their increasing market penetration must be accompanied by appropriate recycling technologies to enable the sustainable and economic utilisation of chemically synthesized bioplastics.
Bioplastics can be recycled mechanically or chemically. Mechanical recycling is superior to chemical recycling in terms of human and ecosystem health and resource use. However, chemical recycling is a viable option to recapture the material value of bioplastics.
The chemical recycling of bioplastics aims to preserve the chemical functionality of bioplastic building blocks to promote a circular economy. This process involves the biochemical and thermal recycling of chemically novel bioplastics, which are biomass-based and do not resemble the chemical structure of fossil-derived plastics.
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Using biodegradable plastics
Biodegradable plastics are an alternative to traditional plastics that can be broken down by microorganisms in the environment. While biodegradable plastics are generally more environmentally friendly than traditional plastics, it's important to note that they are not a perfect solution. Some biodegradable plastics still leave behind microplastics that can be harmful to the environment.
With that being said, certain types of biodegradable plastics can be safely converted into fertilizer. Home-compostable plastics, for example, can be added to your compost and used as fertilizer for your garden. These plastics are typically made from plants and take around 6 months to fully decompose. Look for a stamp or sticker on the plastic that indicates how it can be recycled. If it's compostable, it will say so.
Another type of biodegradable plastic that can be converted into fertilizer is bioplastics. Bioplastics are plastics produced using biomass, and they can be chemically recycled back into fertilizers. A team of scientists from the Tokyo Institute of Technology, led by Assistant Professor Daisuke Aoki and Professor Hideyuki Otsuka, has developed a novel process for recycling bioplastics into fertilizer. Their process focuses on poly(isosorbide carbonate), or "PIC," which is a type of bio-based polycarbonate that has gained attention as an alternative to petroleum-based polycarbonates.
In addition to these methods, there have been other experimental systems developed to convert plastic waste into fertilizer. For example, an Australian inventor, David Thompson, has developed a technology called "POET" (polymer organic energy treatment) that uses anaerobic digestion to convert waste plastic into fertilizer and energy. This system has been successfully tested on various types of plastic and is expected to be installed at wastewater treatment plants.
Overall, while biodegradable plastics may not be a perfect solution to the plastic waste problem, certain types can be safely converted into fertilizer through methods such as home composting and chemical recycling. These approaches not only help reduce plastic pollution but also contribute to addressing issues like resource depletion and increasing food demands.
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Commercial plastic-to-fertilizer machines
Plastic waste is extremely harmful to the environment. While it is not possible to break down most plastics at home, some plastics labelled as "home compostable" can be converted into fertilizer. These compostable plastics are made from plants and can fully decompose in about six months.
In 2017, an Australian inventor, David Thompson, developed a technology called "POET" (polymer organic energy treatment) that can convert waste plastic into energy and fertilizer using anaerobic digestion. The process involves treating plastic and water with microbes, which then die and leave behind liquid and solid biomass that can be used as fertilizer. The biogas produced can be converted into heat and energy. Thompson's company, POET Systems, developed two machines, each capable of processing 20 metric tons of plastic per week. These machines were installed at a wastewater treatment plant in Australia, with plans to expand to other countries.
There are various commercial plastic-to-fertilizer machines available, offering complete organic fertilizer production solutions. These machines use different technologies to convert organic waste into fertilizer pellets. Some common machines include:
- Horizontal mixer machine: Used in small-scale fertilizer production, this machine can be customized according to production capacity.
- Fertilizer packaging machine: An automatic and intelligent packaging machine that caters to different production demands.
- Hydraulic compost turner: This machine is used in windrow composting and has a high granulation rate, making it suitable for large-scale organic fertilizer production.
- Auger type compost turner: This machine promotes cooling, aeration, and thorough mixing of materials.
- Rotary drum dryer: A highly efficient fertilizer dryer machine, especially suitable for mass compound fertilizer and organic fertilizer production.
- Self-propelled compost turner: A cost-effective option for manufacturing bio-fertilizer from organic waste.
These machines and technologies offer innovative solutions to convert plastic waste into fertilizer, contributing to environmental sustainability and waste management.
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Frequently asked questions
Compostable plastics, which are made from plants, can be converted into fertilizer. These include polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and expanded polystyrene.
Home-compostable plastic typically takes around 6 months to decompose fully.
An Australian inventor has developed a technology that can convert waste plastic into fertilizer using anaerobic digestion. The microbes treat the plastic and water simultaneously, then die and leave behind liquid and solid biomass, which can be used as fertilizer.
Food scraps, manure, or used coffee grounds can be used as fertilizer. Food scraps can be blended into compost and spread over the soil to provide nutrient-rich food for your garden.
