WSEAS Transactions on Environment and Development
Print ISSN: 1790-5079, E-ISSN: 2224-3496
Volume 20, 2024
Evaluating Environmental Impacts in Mixed Plastic Waste Powder Recycling: A Comparative Study of Solar Photovoltaic and Natural Gas Alternatives
Authors: , , ,
Abstract: The objective of this study is to assess the environmental impacts (EIs) of mixed plastic waste (MPW). According to the results, MPW powder, a blend of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), significantly reduces climate change (CC) impacts when compared with industry standards. Furthermore, solar photovoltaic (PV) technology is assessed as an alternative to natural gas for producing MPW. When compared to natural gas, PV reduces the effect of MPW on climate change from 1.11 kg $$CO_{2}$$ eq to 0.94 kg $$CO_{2}$$ eq. Therefore, this research demonstrates how the use of PV technology in MPW powder production can reduce emissions by integrating renewable energy into the recycling process.
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Keywords: Solar Photovoltaic, Natural Gas, Carbon Footprints, Embodied Energy, Mixed Plastic Waste, Environmental Impacts, Polyethylene, Polypropylene
Pages: 1067-1071
DOI: 10.37394/232015.2024.20.97