An Appropriate Technology Based, Sustainable Solution for Converting Waste Plastic to Fuel Oil in Rural India

Along with population growth and urbanization in developing countries, the amount of waste generated is also increasing. Although programs and initiatives to recycle and manage waste can often be found in the major population centers, these technologies are slow to spread to or are not yet present in the rural areas. Heavily populated urban slums are also lacking in the infrastructure needed to collect and manage trash, particularly plastic packaging. Additionally, the accumulation of waste in these regions can cause serious health concerns. To address this challenge, the University of Kentucky Appropriate Technology and Sustainability (UKATS) research team has developed an appropriate technology based, sustainable solution to convert waste plastic into a valuable hydrocarbon fuel, suitable for underdeveloped or poverty stricken communities. This processor is designed using the principles of appropriate technology and sustainability and can be constructed using non-standard materials commonly present in rural regions. This research focuses on the successful implementation of this technology in Tamil Nadu, India where plastic waste was utilized to produce a fuel oil product similar to kerosene and diesel fuel in composition. The results of field studies of this processor in India and laboratory analysis of the resulting product will be reported.  This research has been conducted in collaboration with the Organization of Development Action and Maintenance (ODAM) in Tamil Nadu, India.