IBM’s Innovative Technology to Bring in Radical Changes to Plastic Recycling

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Silicon Valley-based technology major IBM has announced an innovative technique that may revolutionize the way in which plastic and other difficult-to-recycle materials are handled at the end of their use. The new technique enables generation of brand new plastic from dirty bottles.

IBM has announced the invention of the new process named VolCat as an alternative to traditional recycling processes. The new technique will process hard plastics by breaking them into powder that can be used in manufacture of new plastic products. The feedstock to the machine does not require any sorting or washing. It must be noted that traditional processes involves sorting waste and washing it. In addition to plastics, VolCat is capable of processing hard-to-recycle items including clothing, carpets, toys etc.

The VolCat process collects items such as plastic bottles, containers, fabrics etc., which are then grounded and combined with a chemical catalyst in a pressure cooker set at high temperature. The heat and pressure within the cooker cleans the ground-up materials. The process separates contaminants from the material and generates useable monomer material in the form of a white powder, which can be used in creation of brand new plastics.

The VolCat process is expected to reduce the demand for virgin plastics and reduce the need of fossil fuels in creation of new plastic products.

IBM aims to bring about complete transformation in the disposal of trash and creation of new plastics in five years.