Published on 05/12/2011
Eppo scheme turns plastic into fuel Municipalities in Khon Kaen, Phitsanulok and Ubon Ratchathani have been picked for a pilot project to convert plastic waste into diesel.
Workers transfer diesel refined using the pyrolysis technology in Phitsanulok.
According to Suthep Liumsirijarern, director-general of the Energy Policy and Planning Office (Eppo), all three municipalities _ Muang Khon Kaen, Muang Phitsanulok and Warin Chamrap _ will apply pyrolysis technology in converting waste into fuel. Pyrolysis is a form of incineration that chemically decomposes organic materials by heat, in absence of oxygen.
Eppo will support the project with a grant of 105 million baht. The three municipalities could manage plastic waste of a combined 22 tonnes per day and convert it into as much as 19,400 litres of diesel a day. Diesel from the plastic waste will be used for municipal administration vehicles and machinery. Muang Phitsanulok handles 10 tonnes of plastic waste per day, capable of producing 10,400 litres of diesel, while Warin Chamrap and Muang Khon Kaen could each convert 6 tonnes into 4,500 litres. "Plastic waste is a serious problem and difficult to terminate, and more importantly it is harmful to the environment," Mr Suthep said. Eppo wants the project to be the model for other municipalities struggling with waste management. Some areas deal with waste either by using landfills or incineration, and this is harmful to the environment. Eppo has been working for more than a decade to turn waste into energy such as biomass and biogas. To this point, electricity production from waste comes mostly from the agriculture and livestock sector. Thailand has total power production from biomass of 1,751 megawatts. The energy policy planner introduced a goal of doubling that figure by 2021. Biogas accounts for 137 MW now, with a goal of 600 MW by 2021. Community solid waste produces 13.5 MW; the 2021 goal is 160 MW. Thailand generates 40,000 tonnes of solid waste per day, or 14 million tonnes a year, 17% of which is plastic. "In future we will hardly find any areas for landfill or incineration because of the smell and harmfulness," Mr Suthep said.