Savious Madanhire
Save Our Environment Trust (SOET) has commissioned a plastic processing machine to recycle and convert plastic waste into building materials.
The machine which was launched at the Midlands School of Business, Innovation, Science and Technology, is capable of processing up to 500 kilograms of plastic waste per day.
It will be used to recycle plastic bottles, bags, and other plastic materials that are commonly found in the environment.
Speaking at the launch, SOET acting Director Nemutenzi said the machine was a significant step towards promoting sustainability and reducing plastic waste in Gweru therefore highlighting the project objectives, impact and plans.
“Providing 500 residents in Mkoba, Senga, Ascort, Mutapa, Mambo and Woodlands with environmentally sound knowledge on the management of all forms of waste.”
“We are dealing with all forms of waste, we have two objectives to that goal which is sensitizing 150 residents and community stakeholders about waste management in the same six communities and the second objective is to provide 200 residents in the six communities with training of waste management and good environmental habits.”
Goal number two is reducing plastic waste which has an impact on human health and the environment in Gweru which is why the plastic processing machine is being launched hence, the machine is operating on three goals which is to collect 300 tons of plastic waste into building materials.
The machine was invented by the Crutchifeld Engineering Team which is committed to supporting initiatives that promote environmental conservation.
The machine technician of the Crutchfield Engineering Team, Tsepo Ragopha explained the stages of the machine and how it operates to achieve its goal.
“The machine uses a ratio of 80% sand and 20% plastic hence the first stage is an extruder where you put in your sand any type using a shovel, then goes through the extruder into a fitter which is the Furner where the temperature heat is so it will heat the soil and if it has reached the required temperature which is 350 to 400 degrees, the sand is there moved to the mixers which also maintains the same temperature for the sand to able to melt the plastic.
“Once in the mixer, you can now add your shredded plastic in the drum mixer together with the sand hence after a few minutes the plastic will start to shrink inside the sand and finally forms a dough feature. Then you should have your molds ready with a scooper hence you open the outlet of the mixer and the dough will be poured into the mold which quickly takes to the presser and then cool it down with water therefore forming an interlocking brick, paver and roofing tiles which does not use cement when building you just interlocked till you are done,” he said.
Additionally, Tsepo said the hotter the furner and the drum mixer, the quicker the process at it can make up to 90 000 interlocking bricks per day and also the most important issue is the ratio because wrong ratio leads to unsuccessful work as it would not make any brick.
This initiative shows innovation as stated by the guest of honor Tendai Forichi, through using sand or soil which is an available resource everywhere and plastic which is a waste resource which harms our health and environment, combining the two of them using the properties of sand to hold a lot of energy to melt the plastic, which then forms the glue that holds the brick together and it makes a wonderful product that is waterproof, long-lasting and should help build homes in a sustainable way.
