Sandoval County Commissioners were presented with a proposal to purchase a nearly zero-emissions plant that converts plastic waste into high-quality fuels at the July 24 commission meeting, offering an alternative solution to combat plastic waste.
A representative from PlastikGas, a global company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, presented the commissioners with a proposal to purchase a 7-ton turnkey plant for $2.5 million. The plant is built in Tampico, Mexico, and would be ready for immediate operation with minimal setup.
Using a proprietary technology known as reverse pyrolysis, it converts plastic waste back into fuel by reversing the plastic production process.
“The good thing about our company is it takes all seven different types of plastic, and you have it right now,” Martin Suazo, executive vice president of PlastikGas, said.
According to Suazo, the plant can recycle 7 tons of plastic per day. While it has the potential to produce up to 85,000 gallons of fuel monthly with two shifts, it produces about 42,000 gallons of fuel monthly with just one shift.
The plant would convert all types of plastic — ranging from beverage bottles and shopping bags to sports shoes and telephones — into fuels including gasoline, diesel, kerosene and petroleum coke, Suazo said.
According to the presentation, the plant, classified by PlastikGas as a size 3, will produce 26,670 gallons of 102-octane gasoline and 15,540 gallons of ultra-low sulfur diesel each month, with an average production cost of $1.24 per gallon. The company says this translates to an estimated annual production of 320,000 gallons of gasoline and 186,000 gallons of diesel.
Suazo said the company is offering the plant at a reduced price, from $5.5 million, due to an unknown previous buyer’s inability to complete the purchase. A $500,000 refundable deposit will hold the plant for up to one year.
There are additional costs the commission needs to consider. The plant will require equipment for sorting, washing, cleaning, densifying and cutting the plastic, which would cost an estimated $1.1 million. Additionally, the county may need a 20-yard by 70-yard concrete pad capable of withstanding 4,200 pounds per square inch and an awning to cover the equipment, estimated to cost between $500,000 and $750,000. The plant will also require natural gas to start the process, but it will produce its own fuel once operational.
The plant could either be installed at the county’s existing landfill or, if the county decides to delay, it might be set up at the new landfill once it is completed in 2035.
According to Suazo, the total cost of starting the plant will be about $4 million to $4.3 million.
According to Suazo, PlastikGas considers itself “friendly to the environment” because the plant does not use any water and it releases minimal emissions due to its sealed, closed-loop system. It is certified by the Environmental Protection Agency and does not exceed the maximum permissible emission levels established by the agency.
“Your barbecue grill has more emissions than our plant does,” Suazo said.
According to Suazo, in addition to producing fuels, PlastikGas generates a residue in the form of biodegradable ash. At their Ecuadorian plant, they have found that this ash is saleable and marketable as a fertilizer, which promotes healthy plant growth.
“I like the concept, I like the technology, I like the environmental aspect of it. I think this is exactly what we’ve been kind of looking for, Mr. Chair, fellow commissioners, for some of the type of manufacturing here, especially if there’s very little use of water here…this is something we would love to have,” Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block said.
The only other plant of this kind in the United States is a 2-ton plant located in San Bernardino, California. The Village of Los Lunas is in the process of acquiring a 4-ton plant.