New publications
Fuel from plastic bags
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Plastic bags pose a real threat to the environment; they pollute water, get tangled in tree branches and take decades to decompose in landfills, poisoning the earth.
In Japan, one of the specialists from the Blest company has developed a device that helps convert plastic bags into fuel.
Akinori Ito demonstrated the operation of his household appliance in a video presentation. Plastic waste (bags, containers, etc.) placed in the tabletop device is melted, resulting in the release of gas, which is then converted into fuel.
The eco-friendly plastic recycling machine processes polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene (except PET bottles). It is worth noting that using 1 kilowatt of power, the machine can produce about 120g of fuel from 1 kg of plastic.
The Japanese inventor was inspired to create such a machine by the common understanding that plastic is made from oil, so there must be a method that would return the plastic to its original state.
Akinori's tabletop machine uses electricity to heat plastic placed inside it, then collects the steam that comes out, which is cooled and condensed into crude oil. This oil can be used for generators and some furnaces. In addition, after preliminary preparation, crude oil is used to make gasoline.
According to the developer of the unique machine, by converting plastic waste into oil, it is possible to significantly reduce air pollution and raise public awareness of the possibilities of fuel from “plastic”.
Burning plastic is the most common form of energy production, but when it is burned, it releases incredible amounts of harmful substances and carbon dioxide into the air.
But despite the fact that recycling plastic produces fuel that will also release harmful substances into the atmosphere when burned, the new method of recycling plastic could be revolutionary. Since Akinari created a device for home use, it can be assumed that consumers will gain greater energy independence, which will reduce the amount of oil extracted from the earth.
Currently, the Japanese inventor's system can be purchased through Blest Corporation, the price of the device is 10 thousand dollars, which makes it inaccessible to a number of potential buyers. However, Akinari intends to reduce the cost of his device when the product becomes more popular and it becomes possible to expand production.
Another unique method of combating waste is worth mentioning. In Rotterdam, a group of students developed a way to recycle food waste and create a material from it that is as durable and as good as leather. The young people created prototypes of bags made from mangoes, nectarines, and a lampshade made from peach scraps.
Currently, fruit leather manufacturers are experimenting with different combinations of vegetable and fruit waste to achieve higher quality of the final product. For example, a bag made of strawberries is short-lived and can tear with frequent use, but adding pumpkin or apple to its composition increases its wear resistance.
[ 1 ]