A startup in Mexico is tackling plastic waste in a Gulf Coast city by converting it into gasoline, diesel, and other fuels. With less than 10% of global plastics being recycled, Petgas aims to repurpose discarded plastic as a valuable resource rather than letting it become waste.
The company has developed a machine in Boca del Rio, a port city, that uses pyrolysis—a thermodynamic process that heats plastics without oxygen, breaking them down into gasoline, diesel, kerosene, paraffin, and coke. Carlos Parraguirre Díaz, Petgas’ chief technology officer, explained that the machine can process 1.5 tons of plastic per week, producing 356 gallons (1,350 liters) of fuel.
While the process requires propane to start the heating, Petgas says the gas produced during pyrolysis is used to keep the machine running. Though carbon dioxide is released in the process, the company claims that its fuel has a lower net environmental impact than other fuels, as it contains less sulfur.
Carlos Parraguirre Díaz emphasized that their machine demonstrates how plastic waste can be transformed into valuable products that are useful in the global economy. He compared the process to discovering hydrocarbons beneath the earth, stating that instead of creating a dump, the plastic can be repurposed for the community’s benefit.
Global plastic production, already surpassing 400 million tons per year, is expected to rise by 70% by 2040 unless significant policy changes are made, according to the United Nations. In 2023, China was the largest exporter of plastic products, followed by Germany and the United States.
A significant portion of plastic is used for packaging, and every day, the equivalent of 2,000 garbage trucks’ worth of plastic ends up in the oceans, rivers, and lakes.
Negotiations on a global treaty to combat plastic pollution, which were held in Busan, South Korea in December, failed to reach an agreement. The goal was to finalize a legally binding treaty to address plastic pollution, including in the oceans, by the end of 2024.
Petgas envisions a circular economy where plastic is no longer considered waste but instead a resource for generating energy. To support this vision, the company has organized plastic collection drives to gather bottles and other materials from the city’s beaches. They encourage the public to drop off plastic waste, and most of the material they receive is clean and shredded, sourced from recyclers.
Alexa Mendoza, a biologist who specializes in plastic pollution in the ocean but is not involved with Petgas, acknowledges that the initiative is a positive step, though she sees it as more of a temporary solution for a larger global issue. She described it as a “band-aid” approach, suggesting that while it’s a good first step, the process could be refined with the help of scientists to avoid creating new forms of pollution.
Currently, Petgas donates the fuel it produces to the local fire department and food delivery services. Carlos Parraguirre Díaz, the company’s chief technology officer, expressed that the goal is to scale up production in a way that would have a meaningful impact on the environment and society.