Transforming plastic garbage into plastic timbers to preserve forests. by EcoAct Tanzania
Pitch
A solar powered extrude machine that uses innovative technology to transform plastic garbage into plastic timber to reduce deforestation.
Description
Summary
Using a solar powered extrude machine and our chemical free innovative, plastic extrusion technology called “Waxy technology” we recycle and transform post consumer waste plastics into durable and long lasting plastic lumbers, Plastic lumbers are affordable alternative to timbers, hence reduces the need for building material manufactured from wood, helping to preserve forests, cut down on deforestation and further mitigation of climate change.
The plastic lumbers which are ideal product for building, construction and furniture making are normally made in 10ft on average and shaped either round or square. Our technology is an environmental friendly plastic extrusion technology that uses profiled waxy inversion in the extrusion process set at different temperatures, the technology helps plastic materials of different polymers reach their melting point quickly while retaining their original stability, helping to use less energy hence lowers production costs, enabling production of plastic lumbers which are 32% less compared to price of timber, the technology converts more than 12 different types of plastics and packaging materials, producing durable, long lasting, termite resistant plastic lumbers used in building and construction estimated to last more than 40 years without replacement whether used in sunny areas, marine or in water applications. We are simply the pioneer of chemical free and energy conserving plastic extrusion technology in Africa.
Proposals
Small Scale Green Roof Project
REDUCE PLASTIC MAKING AND USING RECYCLE EXISTING or REUSE THEM
Waste: a problem or a resource?
What actions do you propose?
The carbon footprint of plastic (LDPE or PET, poyethylene) is about 6 kg CO2 per kg of plastic, Every year more than 9 million tones of plastic waste end up in our oceans causing threat to marine life, and by the year 2050 there could be more plastics than fish In the ocean, Plastic pollution doesn't just hurt marine species. It's also harmful to people. As plastic debris floats in the seawater, it absorbs dangerous pollutants like PCBs, DDT and PAH. These chemicals are highly toxic and have a wide range of chronic effects, including endocrine disruption and cancer-causing mutations.
Practically solid waste management is one of the environmental problems that most African cities are struggling to manage. As the number of residents in most cities is increasing so is the production of solid waste. Very unfortunate, effective environmental and sustainable measures to manage the waste are lacking. Our country generates about 14,800 tones waste every day of which 48% is plastic waste and packaging materials. Plenty of these solid wastes can be found everywhere within the city and round homes, streets ending to oceans. While both the local administrators and environmental legal bodies understands the health risks involved, the lack of financial and technological capability has left the city residents grasping for help.
On the other hand, we saw our forests are fast depleting, the growing demand for timber in building and construction activities was putting a lot of pressure on the country’s forests reserves and natural forests around Mount Kilimanjaro (Our country loses 400,000 hectares of forest every year). If nothing was done quickly, our country would suffer irreparable environmental damage. But we realized that If only we could produce an alternative product to timber that was strong, longer lasting, cheaper and environmentally sustainable, we could definitely profit from the profitable timber market while helping to save forests and preventing plastic waste and packaging materials ending into oceans.
Our project have developed an innovative, chemical free, and a solar powered extrude machine to recycle these unwanted plastic waste that are dumped and disposed everywhere littering the streets and clogging sewers and ending to oceans are transformed into a less expensive, durable, good looking and environmentally friendly plastic lumbers. The plastic lumbers are normally made in 10ft on average and shaped either round or square. Unlike timber our plastic lumber, they do not rot, are termite resistant, are water proof and last longer than timber, does not entertain growth of mould , do not splinter, outlast timber in application, can be assembled, drilled and nailed as easily as timber.
Who will take these actions and which types of actors are involved?
The Actions will be led by EcoAct Tanzania, a green social enterprise established to address the challenges of post consumer plastic pollution, waste management, deforestation and climate change with the collaboration with the local government and the Southern zone community.
Where will these actions be taken and how could they scale?
In addition, specify the countries where these actions will be taken.
Tanzania
Country 2
Kenya
Country 3
Uganda
Country 4
Congo [DRC]
Country 5
South Africa
Impact/Benefits:
What impact will these actions have on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and/or adapting to climate change?
On environmental Impacts our project enhance waste management in urban areas through recycling, over 360 tons has been lifted from landfills in the past 12 months, we promote environmental conservation through reducing the need of timber for deforestation also we reduce carbon emissions from landfills and from deforestation.
Our three years Strategic business plan has ensured the withdraw of over 5.5 million kilograms of plastic waste from the environment and prevented them from ending up into oceans, and used those plastic waste to manufacture plastic lumbers, hence we have saved an estimated 450 acres of forest that would have been cut and same time prevented 4,500,000 kg of CO2 emissions further mitigating climate change.
What are the most innovative aspects and main strengths of this approach?
Our Technology: Using a solar powered extrude machine, We have developed a chemical free, innovative plastic extrusion technology called "Waxy ?? technology" that we use to transform post consumer waste plastics and package materials into durable and long lasting plastic lumbers, which replaces the use of timber in construction. Our technology, uses profiled waxy during plastic extrusion process helping plastic waste and packaging materials reach quickly their melting point while maintaining the stability and hence conserve energy and lower production costs, same time producing plastic lumbers having first class durability, which do not rot, are termite resistant, are water proof and lasts more than 40 years without replacement whether used in sunny areas, marine or in water applications.
By:
EcoAct Tanzania
