9 Plastic Waste Processing Solutions, Effective and Safe!

There are many efforts you can make to preserve nature, such as implementing energy efficiency and processing the waste in your surroundings. Yet, it is crucial to know that every waste resulting in human activity must be processed with certain methods.

For example, plastic waste processing can be carried out by recycling it into new raw materials. To learn more about plastic waste processing methods, read the explanation below!

Plastic Waste Processing Solutions

Did you know that there are 9 million tons of unprocessed waste every year? That’s why it is important to know how to manage waste to prevent it from piling up. You can start by managing the plastic waste around you. Below are some plastic waste processing solutions you can do:

1. Sorting the Waste

The first thing to do in plastic waste processing is to sort the waste before recycling it. This step is crucial because plastic waste may still be mixed with organic waste. In fact, organic and plastic waste have their processing methods. Not only separating it from organic waste but you also need to sort plastic waste based on its types.

Some plastic types might be able to be recycled directly into new products, like plastic bottles that can be used as flower pots. Yet, there is also the plastic type that must be processed into raw materials, such as HDPE bags.

Regarding waste sorting, Chandra Asri Group through Indonesia Asri boosts education on sorting waste before throwing it away with Operasi Semut. This action invites the community to make nature greener with the right waste management.

2. Turning Waste into Crafts

The next plastic waste processing method you can do is transform it into functional crafts, such as carpets made from woven plastic bags, curtains made from plastic bottle caps, and so on.

3. Utilizing Waste for Watering Plants

Some plastic waste, such as plastic bottles and cleaning utility packages, can be leveraged for watering plants. You can create a hole in the bottle and bury some part in the pot or land.

Next, you can fill the bottle with water. The water will seep out from the small holes in the bottle. Aside from plastic bottles, you can use cleaning utility bottles as watering cans. You can cut the bottle’s neck and fill it with water. Then, pour the water into the plants just like using watering cans.

4. Handing the Waste to the Integrated Waste Management

If you do not have time and resources to recycle plastic waste, you can dispose of it through integrated waste management. Those parties can channel or process the waste directly.

One example of integrated waste management is IPST ASARI developed by the Chandra Asri Group. IPST ASARI (Industri Pengelolaan Sampah Terpadu-Atasi Sampah, Kelola Mandiri) is Chandra Asri Group’s initiative to reduce waste in landfills.

This initiative works by collecting waste from industries and households to be sold to recycling industries. Then, the waste is processed into BBM Plas and used by fishermen for their boats and cooking.

Interestingly, IPST ASARI is operated by the surrounding community, especially KSM Sehati Maju Bersama who have been trained to manage plastic waste.

5. Building a Greenhouse

The next tip to manage plastic waste is to build a greenhouse for plants. Rather than spending much money to buy materials for building one, you can utilize plastic bottles as the materials.

You can cut the bottom of the bottles, open the cap, and place them surrounding the garden. This plastic bottle greenhouse can ward off the wind and protect the plants you are cultivating.

6. Processing Plastic Waste into Raw Materials

Plastic waste processing can be done in a simple and advanced way. As explained before, some plastic waste must be processed in an advanced way to be used as raw materials.

If you have access to do this, you can dispose of the plastic waste to the related parties. In this regard, the Chandra Asri Group developed a franchise of supporting products for plastic asphalt made from shredded plastic bags called CIRCLOⓇ.

CIRCLOⓇ is established to empower the local recycling community and plastic waste traders to be able to produce a standardized mixture of raw materials for asphalt.

In addition to local recyclers and traders, Chandra Asri Group also trains asphalt mixing plants (AMP) and contractors to be able to mix this product with asphalt that will be used for construction.

7. Transforming Plastic Waste into Plastic Asphalt

Other than converting plastic waste into raw materials, it can be used to build asphalt. This waste management has also been carried out by the Chandra Asri Group by collaborating with Garut Regency and Yayasan Bakti Barito. The plastic asphalt has been installed in over 120 km of roads across Indonesia.

8. Utilizing Plastic Waste as a Flower Pot

The next plastic waste processing tip is converting it into flower pots. This is a bit simple and can be done by anyone.

You can prepare plastic bottles of mineral water, packed juice, or milk. Then, make a hole in the body and tie a rope to hang them. After that, you can fill the bottle with soil and flowers, and then hang it in the desired area.

9. Transforming Plastic Waste Into Ecobricks

The last plastic waste processing method is transforming it into ecobricks. Ecobricks are one of the material innovations that not only make your product strong but also help you reduce piling waste.

To make it, you can cut, chop, or shred the plastic waste, then put it into a plastic bottle until it is full and solid. These bottles can be used to make various products, such as tables, chairs, or additional materials for building construction.

Those are the information about plastic waste processing tips you can follow. Managing inorganic waste is important to reduce piling waste and make the environment greener.

Plastic waste processing actions have also been carried out by the Chandra Asri Group by establishing CIRCLOⓇ, plastic asphalt, and IPST ASARI.

The leading Indonesian energy, infrastructure, and chemical solutions company actively supports environmental preservation in addition to offering high-quality goods and services.