US company Envion, has unveiled the Oil Generator, a recycling plant capable of turning plastic waste back into light, medium or emulsified heavy oil. The Oil Generator works using low temperature thermal cracking in a vacuum. This catalyst-free process results in a net gain in energy recaptured from the plastic.

Envion claim that a single oil generator unit can turn 10,000 tons of plastic waste back into oil in a single year, producing 3 to 5 barrels of oil from each ton of waste. The Oil Generator can accept PET, HDPE, LDPE/LLDPE, PP, PE, PS and PVC plastics, basically 60% – 80% of the types of plastic generated in the US each year. What’s more, the process is closed so it reuses the vent gases for electricity generation, and the waste residue is transformed into emulsified heavy oil. The generator’s output is similar to crude oil and can be processed into petrol, kerosene, jet fuel and diesel.

So all we need is one of these on a barge out in the middle of the Pacific garbage patch and problem solved right? Regardless it sounds like a much better idea than millions of tonnes of plastic going to landfills.

After years of development and operation, Envion is unveiling and launching its groundbreaking technology in the United States. The Envion process is capable of realizing the energy potential of plastic waste while helping to alleviate some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges in a sustainable and renewable manner.

Tags: gadget, envion+oil+generator, plastic+recycling, plastic+to+oil+recycling