Bin 2 Barrel is a project in which non-recyclable plastics will be processed into diesel. By doing solves two problems at once: firstly it reduces waste and uses plastic that would otherwise end up in landfill or be incinerated; and secondly it reduces dependency on fossil fuels and saves 2.3 KG Co2 emissions per liter of diesel produced.
Currently 9 million tons of plastic is being incinerated in Europe per year and 9.5 million tons of plastic will end up in landfills. Bin 2 Barrel will transform 35,000 tons of plastic into 22.5 million liters of diesel per year in the first phase. In the second phase, from 2018-2019, Bin 2 Barrel will scale up to 170,000 tons of plastic per year and produce 112.5 million liters of diesel.
Roughly 7% of crude oil globally is used to make plastics. The majority of household plastic is either recycled (26%), sent to landfill (38%) or incinerated (36%)after use.
Using non-recyclable plastics to make diesel avoids landfill and environmental pollution. Traditional incineration only captures 25%-30% of the energy whilst the Bin 2 Barrel process is able to capture some 85% (approximately 3 times more).
Bin 2 Barrel has been working in close corporation with local and national authorities in the Netherlands. It will start building the plant in Q1 2016, and start operations in Q2 2017. The diesel produced will be sold to a local company that has a retail network for its distribution; ranging from maritime transport to automotive outlets (via public filling stations).
After the first plant is built in area of the Port of Amsterdam, Bin 2 Barrel expects to quickly scale up to 5 plants. In addition, Bin 2 Barrel will develop similar projects in the UK and in the rest of Europe. The potential for these installations /projects is approximately 500 in Europe alone, which would deliver a CO2 reduction of 25.850.000 tonnes per year.
Initial funding for construction is still difficult due to the lack of experience of banks with this technology, in spite of a positive technical Due Diligence.
A second challenge is to claim the benefits of using waste for the production of fuel. Presently the CO2 reduction is not recognized and this type of diesel cannot be classified as biodiesel. As such the producers neither benefit from the price premium of biodiesel, compared to fossil fuel-based diesel, nor are able to profit from the CO2 advantages by selling any carbon credits.
In addition, the producers do not enjoy preferential financing arrangements and credit rates that can be obtained by biodiesel producers. Presently European Directives impose a blend of 6.25% of biodiesel into the traditional diesel mix but this alternative fuel cannot yet be used in this growing market due to its fossil fuel base primary source. Therefore the Fuel Quality directive is an important instrument for Bin 2 Barrel and it is also working closely together with the Dutch Authorities to find suitable solutions.
Bin2barrel.com, Port of Amsterdam
Port of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Europe
2016
on-going project
Netherlads, Mitigation, Passenger, Freight, technology
Bin 2 Barrel Amsterdam, Port of Amsterdam
Floris Geeris Floris@bin2Barrel.com +31642252020 Paul Harkema Paul@bin2barrel.com +31651822546
"Solving two issues at one; landfill and incineration of plastics at one side and solving the dependency on fossil sources on the other hand. Saving C02 and having a sustainable business case."
A joint, inclusive initiative of
Please contact Nicolas Beaumont, Senior Vice-President Sustainable Development & Mobility of Michelin, nicolas.beaumont@michelin.com, and Maruxa Cardama, Secretary General of SLoCaT, maruxa.cardama@slocatpartnership.org