The Kenyan Man Turning Plastic Waste Into Car Fuel

October 12, 2023

The plastic crisis is undeniable, but solutions are cropping up around the world. In Kenya, one entrepreneur is looking beyond traditional recycling methods to create an eco-friendly alternative to fuel.

James Muritu, the brain behind Progreen Innovations Limited, has pioneered a method to convert plastic waste into fuel for vehicles and engines. Using pyrolysis – a process that heats plastic in an oxygen-deprived environment – Muritu transforms plastics back into an oil or hydrocarbon liquid. An exciting by-product, biochar, fuels the furnaces.

Discussing his innovation, Muritu shares, “Our venture creates two types of fuel. One mimics petrol, ideal for small to medium-sized machinery. The other, an alternative to diesel, powers heavy-duty engines, and I even use it in my car.”

The timing couldn’t be better. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, a whopping 400 million tonnes of waste is produced annually, of which a mere 9% gets recycled. The rest, mainly plastics, end up in landfills, with some lingering for centuries due to their robust chemical makeup.

Local sustainability consultant, Nickson Otieno, praises Muritu’s efforts. He advocates that while the ultimate solution lies in not producing plastics, existing plastic waste should be efficiently managed. “Pyrolysis and other locally-produced, low-tech processes like Muritu’s need our encouragement,” Otieno urges.

Addressing concerns about harmful gas emissions during pyrolysis, Otieno clarifies the significant differences between this method and traditional incineration. He emphasizes that pyrolysis is a more controlled process, and with modern technologies, harmful emissions can be minimized or even purified.

While the fuel innovation sounds promising, it’s not available in the market yet. Awaiting the green light from the Kenya Bureau of Standards, Muritu’s company currently churns out 1,000 liters of fuel every couple of days. Impressively, 80% of the plastic waste input is converted into fuel, making this a viable and sustainable solution.

In a world grappling with Pollution, initiatives like Progreen Innovations offer a glimmer of hope. If supported and scaled, such endeavors can indeed pave the way for a cleaner, greener planet.