Comments on: $10,000-Gizmo Lets You Turn Plastic Bags Back Into Petroleum

By: Chris Boyd

Chris Boyd — Thu, 03 May 2012 12:22:00 +0000

The real benefit here is the fact that we won’t have to dump plastics back into the environment, particularly the oceans. The toxicity of the Pacific Plastic Gyre and that fact that it has already feedback to humans will make this technology very beneficial.

We’re still going to burn oil for a long time to come, so let’s burn plastic bags as well and keep them out of the oceans.

By: Christian Briggs

Christian Briggs — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:15:00 +0000

Ummm, since the end product of almost all oil is to be burnt for energy anyway, why wouldn’t you just burn the bags and cut out the energy expensive middle-man? The pollution is the same whether you burn the bags or turn it to oil then burn the oil. This is like carving the face of the mona lisa on your firewood before you burn it.

By: Vikram

Vikram — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 02:15:00 +0000

Hi, what type of process is used to convert plastics to oil? Is it destructive distillation process?

By: Leslie Jacobs

Leslie Jacobs — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 22:13:00 +0000

This is Awesome! Recently I saw some pieces on shows like
CNN and the journal with Joan Lunden on PBS that were talking about issues and
solutions for industrial recycling. This kind of thing takes it to the next
level. Of course it’s not as good as eliminating oil altogether but it will
help get rid of some of the waste for now. Plus, it looks like the contraption that fueled the back to the
future car.

By: PJ

PJ — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 14:21:47 +0000

I am not a science geek; but I do see what is happening around the world…garbage and alot of it is plastic. If we can recycle plastic at home, let’s do it. Save the fuel for your lawnmower, or car or whatever…but is is a beginning to maintaining huge garbage sites throughout the U.S. and other countries. The problem will never be solved, there are just too many people, too many people that don’t care, and the gadget is too expensive to buy.

By: Grimmy

Grimmy — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:01:59 +0000

Actually anything hydrocarbon-based can be turned into oil – even tires and turkey guts (search for “anything into oil”). Last I heard it was $100+ a barrel.

For some reason, people are focusing on plastics only, but there is a much larger potential.

By: harvey lacey

harvey lacey — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 04:58:25 +0000

Penny wise, pound foolish.

Seriously, if you watch the the video you see the plastics he’s using are numbers one, two and three. Those plastics cleaned and shredded are worth sixty plus cents per pound as raw material for new plastics production.

Do you think for a minute that he’s pulling out sixty cents worth of fuel for each pound of plastic he’s putting into his machine.

It should be noted that if you click on my name you will see why I’m so smart aobut this stuff.