Millions of tons of plastic end up in landfills every year. It’s a big societal problem and an even larger environmental threat.
In the United States, less than 9% of plastic waste is recycled. Instead, more than 75% of plastics waste ends up in landfills and up to 16% is burned, a process that releases toxic gases into the atmosphere.
Researchers from the University of Delaware’s Center for Plastics Innovation (CPI) have developed a direct method to convert single-use plastic waste — plastic bags, yogurt containers, plastic bottles and bottle caps, packaging and more — to ready-to-use molecules for jet fuels, diesel and lubricants.
Read more at: University of Delaware
In the United States, less than 9% of plastic waste is recycled. (Photo Credit: Evan Krape)