Mexican Startup Petgas Converts Plastic Waste into Fuel for a Greener Future

A startup in Mexico, Petgas, is addressing the plastic waste problem in Boca del Río. The company turns discarded plastics into valuable fuels like gasoline, diesel, kerosene, paraffin, and coke. Given that less than 10% of the world’s plastics are recycled, Petgas aims to repurpose waste into something productive.

How Petgas Works

Petgas uses a process called pyrolysis, which heats plastics without oxygen. As a result, this breaks down the plastics into fuels. According to Carlos Parraguirre Díaz, the company’s CTO, the machine processes 1.5 tons of plastic per week. In return, it generates 356 gallons (1,350 liters) of fuel.

Environmental Impact

Although the process initially requires propane to begin heating, the gas produced during pyrolysis is sufficient to sustain the operation. Although some carbon dioxide is released, Petgas claims their fuel has less sulfur than regular fuels, thereby reducing its environmental impact.

Value of the Innovation

Parraguirre Díaz emphasized that the process transforms plastic into a valuable product. “We can transform that (plastic) into a product that’s useful and has high value in the world economy,” he said. He likened it to discovering natural hydrocarbons in the earth.

Global Plastic Pollution Crisis

Plastic production already exceeds 400 million tons annually. However, the United Nations warns that this could increase by 70% by 2040 unless significant changes occur. Furthermore, the world dumps the equivalent of 2,000 garbage trucks of plastic into oceans, rivers, and lakes every single day.

Challenges in Tackling Plastic Pollution

In December, international negotiations aimed at finalizing a treaty on plastic pollution failed to reach an agreement. This treaty, designed to address plastic waste in oceans, was expected to be finalized but ended without a legally binding framework.

Petgas’s Circular Economy Vision

Petgas envisions a circular economy where plastic is no longer waste but a resource. To support this, the company organizes collection drives to gather plastic from local beaches. They work with recyclers who clean and shred the materials before processing them.

Criticism and Future Plans

Although Alexa Mendoza, a biologist who specializes in marine plastic pollution, commended Petgas’s initiative, she described it as a “band-aid” solution. She believes it is a good first step but that more is required. Meanwhile, Petgas continues to donate the fuel it produces to local fire departments and food delivery services. Parraguirre Díaz remains optimistic: “The future is being able to really take production to a scale that has impact.”