B_0414_TEM8

Could Plastic Bags Fuel Your Fleet?

March 21, 2014

A new study says yes.

According to the Worldwatch Institute, Americans throw away about 100 billion plastic shopping bags each year. However, new research shows that these bags can avoid becoming an environmental hazard through conversion into diesel, natural gas, and other useful petroleum products.

“Since this plastic is made from petroleum in the first place, we can recover almost 80% fuel from it through distillation,” says Brajendra Kumar Sharma, senior research scientist at the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center.

The researchers were able to blend up to 30% of their plastic-derived diesel into regular diesel and found no compatibility problems with biodiesel.

A report of the new study appears in the journal Fuel Processing Technology.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Buildings, create an account today!

Sponsored Recommendations

Building Better Schools

Download this digital resource to better understand the challenges and opportunities in designing and operating educational facilities for safety, sustainability, and performance...

Tips to Keep Facility Management on Track

How do you plan to fill the knowledge gap as seasoned facility managers retire or leave for new opportunities? Learn about the latest strategies including FM tech innovations ...

The Beauty & Benefits of Biophilic Design in the Built Environment

Biophilic design is a hot trend in design, but what is it and how can building professionals incorporate these strategies for the benefits of occupants? This eHandbook offers ...

The Benefits of Migrating from Analog to DMR Two-Way Radios

Are you still using analog two-way radios? Download this white paper and discover the simple and cost-effective migration path to digital DMR radios that deliver improved audio...