Tabletop plastic-to-oil conversion

Tabletop plastic-to-oil conversion

A very small-scale plastics recycling facility could be on the way to a tabletop near you, thanks to the work of Japanese inventor Akinori Ito, the developer of the Blest Machine [1]. In a video [2], the inventor explains that his idea stemmed from concerns about the dwindling open spaces in his densely-populated home country of Japan, and developed the machine to convert used plastic containers [3] back into usable oil that could be used for heating, or even refined further into fuel.

The machine, which is simple to use and compact enough to fit on a countertop, uses an electric heater instead of a flame to melt the plastic, avoiding the release of Co2 or other toxins often associated with trash incineration.  Ito hopes that the machine will show people that items they consider to be garbage still have practical value, like fuel, and has been touring schools in Japan to educate children.

  
The video touts how it could be easily exported to developing countries.  But for right now it's only available in Japan and runs $9,500.