Plastic from oil; how about oil from plastic?!

[twinklesweep]

This is the email message I received with this YouTube link:

Subject: Japanese Ingenuity -- Save your plastic ~~~ even styrene

Very interesting.... This is one of the most amazing ... break-throughs in technology I have ever seen!!! Why aren't we doing this now????! A case of Japanese ingenuity and perseverance!

Man invents machine to convert plastic into oil - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/embed/qGGabrorRS8?rel=0)

And this is what I wrote back:

Not to sound too cynical, but why aren't we doing a lot of things? For example, in Scandinavia, the bulk of their electricity is produced via wind power. In parts of Canada and South America, mass transit buses operate on natural gas or liquid petroleum, both domestically available, rather than gasoline, made from imported oil. We had the opportunity to develop solar power in the 1980s, but at that time it was squashed.... This simple machine is remarkable, but in our world, at least at the present time, I suspect it's another "if only"....

I am curious what others think of a device like this and the meaning of "recycling" as it relates to it.

[Bucco]

This is the email message I received with this YouTube link:

Subject: Japanese Ingenuity -- Save your plastic ~~~ even styrene

Very interesting.... This is one of the most amazing ... break-throughs in technology I have ever seen!!! Why aren't we doing this now????! A case of Japanese ingenuity and perseverance!

Man invents machine to convert plastic into oil - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/embed/qGGabrorRS8?rel=0)

And this is what I wrote back:

Not to sound too cynical, but why aren't we doing a lot of things? For example, in Scandinavia, the bulk of their electricity is produced via wind power. In parts of Canada and South America, mass transit buses operate on natural gas or liquid petroleum, both domestically available, rather than gasoline, made from imported oil. We had the opportunity to develop solar power in the 1980s, but at that time it was squashed.... This simple machine is remarkable, but in our world, at least at the present time, I suspect it's another "if only"....

I am curious what others think of a device like this and the meaning of "recycling" as it relates to it.

Here is a bit of detail on your video and the other companies trying the same thing here in the USA.

Pros and cons I suppose from what I can read !!


"Man Invented a Machine to Convert Waste Plastic into Oil and Fuel - Facts"

"According to a 2012 study prepared for the American Chemistry Council, by the research organization RTI International, these Pyrolysis conversion technologies that turn plastic waste into fuel have developed to the point where they are likely to be commercially viable in just 5-10 years."

"The Pros:

All those dirty waste plastics going into landfill and leaching chemicals can be avoided by this process. It can be utilized in a better way.
Saves both energy and carbon emissions, and depending on regional landfill costs, it can also be more cost efficient.

The Cons:

In long term, there may be environmental risk from the gas emissions, the impurities and potentially toxic compounds that will be left behind in this process.
If this oil production process becomes successful, use of plastic may not be put on check."

"Regarding the future of this plastic to oil conversion, the RTI study concludes saying:

"The future of these technologies will depend heavily on the success of first-generation facilities, but some successes are already coming to fruition. Two facilities have off-take agreements, and almost all of the surveyed vendors have recently received awards for innovation and/or clean energy solutions. Conversion technologies should be considered an emerging, viable option for managing non-recycled plastics and MSW (municipal solid waste) in the near future."

So only time and development in these technologies will tell us how efficient, safe and profitable these conversion processes can be.

Man Invented a Machine to Convert Waste Plastic into Oil and Fuel - Facts-HoaxOrFact.com Analysis. (http://www.hoaxorfact.com/Technology/man-invented-a-machine-to-convert-waste-plastic-into-oil-and-fuel-facts.html)

"Several companies have; patents for this sort of thing go back into the late 90's. Really, anything made of carbon you can make into straight-chain hydrocarbons. Coal-to-gasoline processes have been around since the 1930s - it's just a matter of energetic and economic sustainability".

Converting plastic back into oil - snopes.com (http://message.snopes.com/showthread.php?t=67107)

[eweissenbach]

Bucco, you are a thoughtful guy and a good guy but you tend to swallow a bit too much of the right wing propaganda IMHO. I don't know that your quoted piece is one of those, but too many pieces that purport to refute scientific evidence are. This kind of garbage really keeps people confused and causes many to oppose things that would be of great value to society and to each of us individually. The Koch Bros and their ilk hire pseudo scientists and journalists to argue against global warming, for example, despite the fact that all the obvious evidence and virtually every credible scientist acknowledge it's obvious threat. They would rather let future generations suffer the consequences than have to follow some pesky, and costly regulations. We cannot move forward scientifically because of the politicalization of issues that are easily adopted in countries that are less politically polarized than we are. It is a frightful way to operate a country.

[Bucco]

Bucco, you are a thoughtful guy and a good guy but you tend to swallow a bit too much of the right wing propaganda IMHO. I don't know that your quoted piece is one of those, but too many pieces that purport to refute scientific evidence are. This kind of garbage really keeps people confused and causes many to oppose things that would be of great value to society and to each of us individually. The Koch Bros and their ilk hire pseudo scientists and journalists to argue against global warming, for example, despite the fact that all the obvious evidence and virtually every credible scientist acknowledge it's obvious threat. They would rather let future generations suffer the consequences than have to follow some pesky, and costly regulations. We cannot move forward scientifically because of the politicalization of issues that are easily adopted in countries that are less politically polarized than we are. It is a frightful way to operate a country.

I have no idea of what you are saying. My intent and I think I did was to support the poster of the video.

There is much conversation on this subject and my links, etc show both good and bad on the idea......maybe you should read it.

Why in the world would you say to me what you said.....in no way was I negative, but in case you care.....this was the subject of much debate when this video first came out...a few years ago and it was panned. I searched for validation...yet you condemn me......ok....whatever...surely not going to be on this thread or supporting anyone else soon....you just get creamed

If it is some requirement to be politically correct in your eyes I am sorry....was not my intent.....you talk as if I made light of the video which I did not. You politicians are all the same....even a slight reference to the other side makes you the devil.

By the way, your assumption that I was spewing right wing propaganda is insulting

[eweissenbach]

Holy cow Bucco, you are really thin-skinned. I was not attacking you, other than to say that, in my opinion you are a little too susceptible to right wing propoganda. I was trying to point out that much of the supposed opposition research and journalism is really well paid intentional diversion in an effort to cloud legitimate issues. Hang in there buddy!

[Bucco]

Holy cow Bucco, you are really thin-skinned. I was not attacking you, other than to say that, in my opinion you are a little too susceptible to right wing propoganda. I was trying to point out that much of the supposed opposition research and journalism is really well paid intentional diversion in an effort to cloud legitimate issues. Hang in there buddy!

Since you have passed judgement and put a label on me, I will just leave you folks alone. How you can have that opinion when you have not the slightest idea of what I read or do not read but that hasnt stopped you from supplying a public label for me. Hope you and all your friends have a nice laugh at my expense for that "in my opinion you are a little too susceptible to right wing propoganda." remark. I have tried to shy away from that kind of stuff but enjoy you self as you visit and give out the labels.

You knew my post was not intentionally negative in anyway, yet you make these comments....thanks

To twinklesweep.....my intent was to help and supply a bit more info on a video that has been around for quite some time and the subject of a lot of discussion. Had I wanted to be negative about it, there are tons of things I could have posted. Just wanted you to really know my intent. I was not duped by a right wing conspiracy