Japanese Invention Turns Plastic Trash into Oil
Akitori Ito demonstrates how to use his invention, which turns waste plastic into crude oil. (image: youtube.com)
One of the reasons plastic disposable water bottles have become the arch-nemeses of environmentalists in recent years is that they are (like all other plastics) made out of crude oil. All those plastic bottles, plastic silverware, plastic toys, etc. use up a lot of oil. The GOOD Magazine blog posted a video from United Nations University on Monday that covered Akinori Ito’s creation of a machine that turns raw plastic trash into a derivation of crude oil.
The machine is incredibly small and portable, and uses only heat and water to extract the raw fuel from all kinds of plastic. As Ito, the CEO of the Blest corporation, explains in the video, the portability of the machine allows him to take it to developing countries with serious trash disposal problems and show schoolchildren that plastic waste can be a valuable commodity. Just like out-of-the ground crude, the oil extracted from plastic can be refined into gasoline, diesel, and kerosene.
Although the fuel from plastic is still a fossil fuel that emits carbon dioxide when burned, it could help reduce the carbon footprint of fuel production by sourcing plastic from population centers near refineries rather than shipping crude great distances.
Just another example of simple but amazing technology that could help power our world AND reduce our carbon footprint while reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. And because it is a potential source of diesel fuel, plastic could soon be a new raw material for making heating oil. The future is now, people!
Thanks, Ito.
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Leslie Davis (@davis_leslie) says: says:
Yeah this has become totally normal now. Recently I saw some pieces on shows like CNN and the journal with Joan Lunden on PBS that were talking about issues and solutions for industrial recycling. This kind of thing takes it to the next level.
Josh Garrett says: says:
Sorry Mariko, but we don’t have any direct ties to the Blest Company, so I’m afraid I can’t help you get in touch with them. Here is their Japanese-language website, which includes a description of the plastic-to-oil machine in their “English Catalogue.” Best of luck to you.
takagi,mariko says: says:
how can i contact and interested on the the machine. im in the philippines but will go to japan on september 15. please contact me.09152803803
Laura says: says:
Thank you for this article. Thank you to Mr. Ito, too. I’ll be sharing this with as many people as I can.