Determining the Optimum Locations of a Locally-Managed Decentralized Solution for Conversion of Waste Plastic to Fuel in Developing Regions

Due to the lack of sufficient capital, infrastructure and knowledge pertaining to hazards associated with waste accumulation, plastic waste management is a serious issue in rural regions of developing countries. As a result, in order to be effective, waste plastic management strategies must rely simply on the resources and technical knowledge of local communities to devise innovative solutions. This research proposes the implementation of a locally-managed decentralized circular economy (LMDCE) as a potential method for waste minimization by reusing and recycling waste plastic at its source of generation. A feasible LMDCE solution is conversion of waste plastic to fuel oil via thermal decomposition, utilizing appropriate technology in underdeveloped regions.

This research presents an initial supply chain optimization case study of a small-scale, low-cost, LMDCE based waste plastic to fuel oil process – designed by the University of Kentucky – in Jinja, Uganda. Utilizing MATLAB computational software, the optimum number, size, and locations of the technology for future implementation will be identified. The role of small entrepreneurs and waste pickers, amount of waste plastic completely removed from the ecosystem, and the sustainability of the proposed solution will further be discussed.