Transform Waste Into Valuable Resources
Thanks To Efficient Open Source Technologies
Our set of technical solutions can be resilient to local needs when using locally available waste. They can either consolidate an already established recycling network or lay the former's foundations.
The term "plastic" actually covers a diversity of materials, each having different mechanical and chemical properties. The collection, identification, and sorting of these different types of plastics are the first essential steps to enable their recycling. At a smaller scale, the separation of plastics is done manually. Identifying them correctly requires a certain level of skills and expertise. We are developing a low-cost infrared spectrometer to facilitate this learning process and prevent omissions.
Mechanical recycling makes it possible to transform recyclable plastic waste into innovative objects. Shredded and washed, plastic waste is then heated and kneaded by an extruder to form a malleable paste. Now in a mold, the plastic cools down and hardens before a new object can be produced, such as bricks to build houses, plates to replace wood, furniture, or even pipes.
Plastics that are not recyclable (technically or economically) can still be of use one last time. Since plastic comes from petroleum, it can return to its original form through pyrolysis. This process converts, at high temperature, plastic waste into gas and fuel to produce heat or electricity.
Certain plastics, such as water bottles, are difficult to recycle on a small scale. It is, therefore, more interesting to resell them to specialized plants that will optimize their recycling. To optimize transport to these plants waste is compressed by a compacting machine.
The baler enables to compact a set of waste materials into compressed cubes....
Extrusion is a shaping process widely used in the plastic industry. It is the key process for mechanical recycling. Extrusion consists of gr...
Sorted plastic is shredded into smaller homogenized particles, which enables them to be later processed by the following technologies....
Uncover, Develop and Share
Innovations To Stimulate Their Dissemination
innovative, low-tech recycling technologies, developed by craftsmen and recycling entrepreneurs around the world. Because most ingenious solutions often emerge where they are most needed, we will explore this know-how through an unprecedented scientific expedition.
solutions resilient to the field based on existing technologies in the industry.
These solutions will then be tested onboard our laboratory vessel and will either accompany or improve local know-hows over each stopover.
innovations to stimulate their dissemination.
Know-hows and designs of the technologies will be disseminated in open source on a dedicated platform, after having been tested onboard the vessel.