Re: PP-PE waste to energy...

[Carefreeland@aol.com]

In a message dated 5/26/02 3:55:26 PM Eastern Daylight Time, rstanley@legacyfound.org writes:


> Jean et all,
>
> Please include me in the groups findings about plastics conversion to energy
> too. We train local micro entrepreneurs how to produce biomass briquettes in
> the developing world. In practi\ce however, a few styrofoam plastic cups and
> typical shopping / packaging bags slip in to approximate proportion of 10 gm,
> to 120 gm of biomass material. Seems that there is little effect in terms of
> smoke and odor because the briquettes burn at a relatively high temperature
> but is it safe to assume there are no "invisible" effects ? Probably not
> ,until at least, it can be verified.
>
> It would be great to be able to include such in the biomass , as there is so
> much  plastic waste litter out there today.
>
> Richard Stanley
> www.legacyfound.org


  > Richard, 
       I wouldn't worry too much about the plastic bags as they are usually polyethylene with possibly only some trace toxins in the dye or ink.  The polystyrene concerns me.  In our local area polyethylene is recycled, polystyrene is not.  I believe the polystyrene has chlorine in it which creates all kinds of nasty chemicals when combusting, including dioxin.  
       Has anybody invented a polyethylene foam for insulation? 
     Your friend, 
             Dan Dimiduk