A new way of recycling

With Blue Cycle it becomes possible to recycle additional types of plastic that used to be non-recyclable

from plastic waste tO SUSTAINABLE resources

Blue Cycle is fully equipped to recycle more types of plastic. The following steps explain the process of converting plastic waste into reusable oil. 

plastic waste

The collected plastic waste enters the plant of Blue Cycle

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sorting & processing

 The plastic waste stream is sorted, washed, and shredded to be prepared for the conversion process

pyrolysis

To convert the plastics into their raw form, they are heated according to the method of pyrolysis 

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new plastics

A sustainable resource is the result: oil. This can be used as diesel fuel or ideally as a resource for new plastics

the problem

Plastics are versatile materials, however the current way of usage is incredibly wasteful. Fossil fuels are used for the production and a large part of the waste is incinerated. Therefore, it is necessary to improve plastic recycling to achieve the goals that are set in the Paris Climate Agreement regarding the reduction of CO2 emissions.

Blue Cycle has reconsidered the relationship with plastic and developed a plant in which more types of plastic waste can be broken down into their valuable raw form. The generated oil will ultimately be used as a resource for new plastics to close the cycle. This reduces the amount of CO2 emissions related to plastic production and waste incineration. In this way, Blue Cycle contributes to the solution for the general environmental problem.

Blue cycle as a solution: in just 3 steps

1
plastic waste

First, the plastic waste is sorted, washed and shredded. The plastic pellets from the sorting plant are converted into oil. Heating the reactor on the outside converts the plastic, which consists of large, long molecules (polymers), into oil. The heating breaks the large plastic molecules into smaller pieces, creating a complex mixture of hydrocarbons that we call pyrolysis oil. Some of the molecules formed are so small that they are gaseous. This flammable gas is sucked out of the process and then used via burners to heat the reactor.

2
PLASTIC PYROLYSIS

Plastic pyrolysis a proven technology which consists of a chemical process of breaking plastics down into their raw form and turning them into a raw material for new plastics (or an alternative fuel). In Europe only about 30% of plastic waste is recycled, most of which is achieved through mechanical recycling where plastic is sorted by type, shredded, and melted into new (lower quality) plastic. The remainder is either subjected to landfilling or is incinerated to retrieve energy. Unlike mechanical recycling, chemical recycling like pyrolysis can replace feedstock for virgin plastics, significantly increase recycling rates, and reduce the carbon footprint as it can utilise mixtures of waste plastics, including low-tier plastics which are often not recycled, and offers an environmentally sound and circular alternative to incineration and inefficient landfilling.

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3
Raw materials for new plastic

Through plastic pyrolyse the plant is able to produce oil, or Pyroil, which can be used as a raw material for new plastics as it can replace feedstock for crackers that produce building blocks for new plastics. After this the produced Pyroil will be sold to the partners of Blue Cycle, who turn the oil into new plastics. The plant is inherently flexibel in its design and can also be used to produce oil products that can be directly blended into the engine fuel pool, such as standard EN590 grade 6 (low sulphur) diesel.

“BLUE CYCLE CHANGES THE FUTURE BY THE WAY IT RECYCLES PLASTIC WASTE”

OUR PARTNERS

The plastic pyrolyse plant is based on existing and proven technology which provides reliable and experienced suppliers

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