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Transforming Waste Plastic Into $10/Barrel Fuel

Mike writes "Today Washington DC-based company Envion opened a $5 million dollar facility that they claim will be able to efficiently transform plastic waste into a source of oil-like fuel. The technology uses infra-red energy to remove hydrocarbons from plastic without the use of a catalyst, transforming 82% of the original plastic material into fuel. According to Envion, the resulting fuel can then be blended with other components, providing a source for gasoline or diesel at as low as $10 per barrel."

8 of 315 comments (clear)

  1. Envion? by Tablizer · · Score: 4, Funny

    I can't quite put my finger on it, but the name of the company scares me for some reason.

  2. Re:$4.9 million spent on Frank Carlucci by DragonWriter · · Score: 5, Funny

    If turning waste plastic into fuel was cost effective, they'd be doing it already.

    Yes, nothing new can ever be (or have the potential for becoming) cost effective, because if it was, it would already be done by everyone, everywhere, already. Everything that can be done, is already being done. Semptember 16, 2009, is the official end date of human progress.

  3. Re:Can we put one of these factories on a ship? by chill · · Score: 3, Funny

    And anchovies. Don't forget anchovies are the secret behind Mom's Old-Fashion Robot Oil, and they willon goion extinct around 2200.

    http://theinfosphere.org/A_Fishful_of_Dollars

    --
    Learning HOW to think is more important than learning WHAT to think.
  4. Re:I also saw this with great skepticism, but... by Toonol · · Score: 5, Funny

    Or back into dinosaurs?

  5. Re:Can we put one of these factories on a ship? by Nutria · · Score: 5, Funny

    And dolphins.

    But they're intelligent!

    Except for the ones that spend all their money on instant lottery tickets. They're stupid, so it's ok to eat them...

    --
    "I don't know, therefore Aliens" Wafflebox1
  6. Re:Can we put one of these factories on a ship? by isny · · Score: 3, Funny

    The US is invading the pacific garbage patch...it's occupants deserve freedom.

  7. Re:$10 per Barrel by WhoIsThePumaman · · Score: 5, Funny

    My middle-class parents fought bravely in the Great Class War. They were on the front lines at the Battle of Yuppie Hill, charging forth with their cards and using their meager wages to fight against the upper class. Skilled for battle by community and state colleges, their assault landed them deep into enemy territory. Luckily, they managed to carve out refuge and propagate, bringing new soldiers into the onslaught. Alas, it was too late, as the Upper Class bought out the Lower Class and together they forced my family and friends into a life of video games, malls, nights at the pub, and an affordable sedan.

    Life's harsh, but we manage to make it through the night.

  8. Re:What can you actually do with 5Mil by Big+Hairy+Ian · · Score: 4, Funny

    There is a lot of DC that I've never seen, but I was wondering where they found those vacant lots with trees where they were able to set up a couple tractor trailer loads of tanks and catwalks. I'll check the yellow pages for propane/LNG wholesalers....

    I'm sure it must get a mention in the latest Dan Brown book as some kind of conspiracy involving the Freemasons trying to undermine the Oil Cartels.

    --

    Build a Man a Fire, and He'll Be Warm for a Day. Set a Man on Fire, and He'll Be Warm for the Rest of His Life.