Reimagining plastics waste as energy solutions: challenges and opportunities

Abstract

Recent statistics portray a stark reality, particularly highlighting the inadequate recycling measures and the consequent environmental threats, most notably in developing nations. The global ramifications of plastic pollution are elucidated, specifically focusing on the alarming accumulation in regions such as the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch” and evolving waste management practices in Southeast Asian countries. We emphasize the significance of Waste-to-Energy (W2E) and Waste-to-Fuel (W2F) technologies, e.g., pyrolysis and gasification, for converting difficult-to-recycle plastic waste into a dense-energy source. However, we identify a critical gap in current research: the emission of CO2 during these processes. This perspective spotlights emergent CO2 capture and utilization technologies, underscoring their role as a robust turnkey solution in making W2E and W2F methods more sustainable and unleashing the huge potential of using waste plastics as a dense-energy source. The scientific community is urged to develop tailored solutions for reducing CO2 emissions in plastic waste conversion processes. This approach promotes circular resource utilization and realizes the socio-economic and environmental advantages of plastic waste utilization technologies, advocating their implementation in economically disadvantaged regions.