Universitas Dian Nuswantoro (Udinus) Semarang successfully invented an innovation in the form of solar fuel energy made of plastic wastes. The project was demonstrated at the Landfill of Jeron Village, Nogosari Sub-district, Boyolali Regency. It aimed to serve as a solution for processing plastic waste within the area.

This project was a product of collaboration between Udinus and the Living Environment Service of Boyolali Regency. By using this method, plastic wastes can be converted into hydrocarbons of a high value. This process utilizes a technology known as pyrolysis, an innovative method to convert plastic waste into solar fuel.

“This pyrolysis technology allows us to convert a kilogram of plastic waste into a liter of solar fuel. If we were to continue the purifying process, the wastes can even be turned into a type of fuel known as Dexlite,” Prof. Kusmiyati, the Head of the Renewable Energy and Food Research Center at the Engineering Faculty at Udinus.

Jeron Village was chosen as an experimental place, as the plastic processing in this area still merely revolves around selling and sorting wastes. Hopefully, through this project, Jeron Village will be able to motivate its surrounding villages to process plastic waste into fuel energy.

A Solution to Process Waste in Boyolali

Suraji, the Head of the Living Environment Service of Boyolali, welcomed this initiative move from Udinus. According to him, this whole time, the plastic wastes were only sold and sorted. However, thanks to Udinus, plastic wastes currently hold higher economic value.

“Boyolali produces 300 tons of waste per day, with 45 tons of it being plastic waste. This project brings us a new glimpse of hope on how to process our plastic wastes, and hopefully, this method can be further implemented in other villages,” Suraji revealed.

Meanwhile, the Winong Landfill in Boyolali has reached its full capacity, with a total of 88.71 tons per day. Out of this waste, 14.4 tons of which are plastic waste. However, only about 14% of this waste was reused.

The project, developed by Udinus and the Living Environmental Service of Boyolali, is expected to be a concrete solution to process plastic waste, as well as to open an opportunity to develop renewable energy within the area. (Humas Udinus/Alex. Foto: Humas Udinus)