Australia’s process engineering industry has partnered with Geo Trash Management (GTM) to design and commission the first commercial plastic oil distillation plant in Indonesia. The Australian-Indonesian company has created a new market for previously unrecyclable plastics and rubber waste through advanced recycling techniques.
Through the Indo-Pacific Plastics Innovation Network (IPPIN), Australia’s CSIRO is supporting entrepreneurs in the Asia-Pacific to transform plastic waste problems into profitable and sustainable solutions. The work is part of its Ending Plastic Waste Mission, which has a goal of an 80 per cent reduction in plastic waste entering the Australian environment by 2030.
Andrew Sinclair, GTM co-founder and project director, said, "We are converting zero value plastics into a valued resource, promoting a new revenue stream for waste aggregators, pickers and communities.”
Sinclair and his team received a grant from IPPIN to advance the technology around the purification of plastic pyrolytic oil. Pyrolytic oil can be used as a substitute for petroleum. The grant will help develop equipment to produce a high-quality, commercial-grade hydrocarbon used to make new plastics, lubricating oils, or other industrial chemicals.
“Maintaining simplicity and affordability without compromising quality or safety is key to the success of our technology,” he said.
Sinclair said the IPPIN grant allowed GTM to bring more technology and processing power to Indonesia.
“We’ve connected with Australian leaders in technology development from the hydrocarbon engineering industry. This grant will help us design and commission the first commercial plastic oil distillation plant for Indonesia," Sinclair said.
"For the process to be effective, the business strategy must be fit for purpose, and suitable for the community, local customs, and economics. It must be totally aligned with regional legislation and meet international environmental standards.
Sinclair went on to say the programs helped him and his team to organise, structure and simplify its management approach, as well as facilitate customer communication.
"This included exposure during the 2022 ‘Road to G20: Beating Plastic Pollution from Source to Sea’ summit in Bali, where we networked and pitched our plastic innovation before a panel of judges," he continued.
According to Sinclair, the IPPIN program opened the gate to a new road of collaborative possibilities from many high-level players in the sustainable development space and, “definitely put the spotlight on our work here in Indonesia".
By the end of the IPPIN project period, GTM will have a fully operational demonstration facility that can process more than 200 tonnes of plastic waste a year.
Sinclair said this is suitable for a community of 10,000 people, is financially viable, and is a great opportunity for future investors. But scaling up the capacity of the facility will be important to deliver sustainable impacts on bigger cities.
“Through our work with IPPIN we hope to work towards facilities to manage 10 to 60 tonnes of waste plastics per day. Today this is our purpose, tomorrow this will be our legacy for future generations,” he concluded.
