New project will turn plastic waste into fuel

A new partnership will see plastic from the rivers and environment in Southeast Asia turned into fuel.  

Riverrecycle has been awarded funding from the ICTSI Foundation to support the removal of plastics along the river Pasig in Manila, Philippians. 

This work will be accompanied by Clean Planet Energy, whose fuels are made from the waste plastic. 

The Clean Planet Energy ecoPlant uses Pyrolysis & Oil-Upgrading technology to convert non-recyclable waste plastics into fuels. The fuels produced can be used as a direct replacement in fossil-fuel engines.

Riverrecycle and Clean Planet Energy have already begun the development of the first eco plant and collection system in Manila with a view to begin construction in early 2022 with work in Indonesia to follow. 

Anssi Mikola, CEO of River Recycle said: ‘With our focus in Southeast Asia, Riverrecycle takes action by closing the loop on plastic waste in the most affected areas close to rivers.

‘To generate a perfect circular economy, we must create a waste management system that supports local municipalities to effectively manage plastic waste, and from that waste reintroduce the recovered material back into the economy; this latter part is where we’re excited to work with our partners at Clean Planet Energy.’

Bertie Stephens, Clean Planet Energy’s CEO added: ‘We are in a global plastic and carbon crisis, and no one single company, group, individual or foundation can solve it alone.

‘Both Riverrecycle and Clean Planet Energy hold advanced and complementary technologies which together can help reduce these problems. Riverrecycle’s technology will remove difficult plastics from the environment which would otherwise end up in our oceans, and by delivering this to our ecoPlants we can convert these plastics into ultra-clean fuels that can replace dirty fossil fuels in transport vessels (such as planes and ships) that have no other alternative means of power.

‘To beat this crisis you need technologies to unite, and this partnership is a perfect example of such synergy.’

Photo by Alexander Schimmeck