Effective and Economic Disposal of Plastic waste

Project Abstract / Summary : We reside in an age which faces scarcity as one of the most immense problems. With our prolonged and magnified use of vehicles and contraptions which consume a lot of fossil fuels, we face the largest of problems – ENERGY CRISIS. As environment loyalists, we come to a point where recycling and reuse seem to be the only options to curtail our use and contribute to our cause of saving scarce crude oil for the future. But, there is also a problem in both of the above points as recycling becomes ineffective and inefficient after being performed more than 2 3 times, and reuse cannot be done due to the nature of the articles.

Most countries resort to burning or landfilling as means to disposal of plastic waste. But these methods contribute in large to pollution particularly air and land. Landfilling induces chemical leaching that affects the ecosystem. While burning results in release of carcinogenic fumes that affects the ecosystem again. Moreover both these methods also requires the need for energy investment. In the current scenario where we face energy crisis, any additional dispense of energy is extremely expensive, hence current waste disposal techniques only hinder human advancement and healthcare.


This is the project that solves the issues of disposal of plastic and a source of energy simultaneously. This project involves the catalytic degradation of waste plastic at thermal conditions. The vapors so produced are collected and processed thereby obtaining paraffin grade hydrocarbon. Experimental conversion efficiency is obtained as 85%. The paraffin composition may be analyzed by testing at distilleries or at refineries. This project is a humanitarian cause project enhancing our environment and providing a new source of energy.

Why did you choose to work on this project topic : Our team was composed with the view of social providence with our knowledge. At the given time and technology, from the point of view of India, we face two major issues: Energy crisis and waste management issues. Being the problems that required attention the most, we decided on tackling this issue with our knowledge. Being mechanical engineers, we decided to provide an effective and economic design coupled with a good end-marketing strategy to make this project. We are also members of the organisation GLOBAL PROJECT ARIES, where we have pledged to work for the society with no consideration to profit or money making.

This project has an immense scope of turning waste into wealth. By this project we can increase the sanitation and hygiene of our cities simultaneously with the technological advancement that we could get using the energy that we generate. This project has a global scope of implementation as all nations are choking in the problems of plastic waste disposal.

Being from Trivandrum, where plastic waste is causing very much trouble, this is a contribution from us to help this place from this social evil. We have satisfactory technical assistance from our college, friends and governmental institutions.

Project Category : Mechanical / Automobile / Aeronautical
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Institute/College Name: Mar Baselios College of Engineering and Technology
City: Trivandrum
State: Kerala
Participating Team From: Third Year