Recycle of Plastic Bag Wastes with Organic Wastes to Energy for RDF Productions

Abstract

This paper studies the utilization potential of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) approach to recover the discarded plastics from Hatyai solid waste disposal site in Songkhla province, Thailand. The excavated plastic bag wastes from the closure landfill of Hatyai, unused plastic bag wastes and waste residues are the raw materials for RDF productions. The raw materials are characterized for proximate analysis and ultimate analysis. The RDF5 (Densified RDF) with different raw materials are produced and characterized in this study. All raw materials have low moisture content, high volatile solids, low ash content and low fixed carbon. Thus, these raw materials are suitable for RDF productions. Due to low sulfur content, the combustion of these RDFs has no risk for the global warming and acid rain cause. The various RDFs in this study include a plastic bag wastes-palm fronds-RDF (PP-RDF), an unused plastic bag wastes-palm fronds-RDF (UPP-RDF), a plastic bag wastes-palm fronds-cassava peels-RDF (PPCRDF) and a plastic bag wastes-palm leaves-rubber wastes-RDF (PPRRDF). The various RDFs are provided the good physical and chemical properties. The higher heating value (HHV) of PP-RDF, UPP-RDF, PPCRDF and PPR-RDF is 5,725, 5,674, 5,548 and 5,872 kcal/kg, respectively. The HHV of various RDFs is higher than the HHV criterion for RDF in the briquette form. Therefore, the plastic-wastes RDF has the potential for energy as solid fuels for kiln. According to this study, the plastic-bagwastes RDF in the briquette form is suitable for renewable energy.