Economic Analysis of Recycling of Plastic Waste Through Pyrolysis Process

Abstract

Persistent plastic has emerged as a major global environmental challenge as plastic production volume continues to surge. Though efforts towards recycling have been rising, most plastic waste winds up in landfills, which pose major ecological dangers. As the amount of this waste increases, urgent development of effective and sustainable recycling methods is required. The objective of this study is to quantify plastic waste generated in Peshawar, Pakistan, to classify their types and to evaluate the economic feasibility of the use of pyrolysis (as a recycling technique) in plastic waste management. Samples of plastic waste are collected from different transfer stations and landfills situated in Peshawar. These samples are then sorted into major categories of the most common types: Polyethylene (PE), Polystyrene (PS) and Polypropylene (PP). An economic evaluation of a pyrolysis plant is performed to assess the feasibility of the plant, including capital cost, operational cost, and profit potential. Real-time data is taken from local waste streams for the analysis. Polyethylene (50.8%), then PET (13.7%), and Wrappers (12.8%) are the most abundant plastic types found. To achieve the same level of processing, a pyrolysis plant would require an investment of $267,365, which would yield a net profit of $57,767 annually. The payback time of investment is calculated to be 4.6 years. It is proved that pyrolysis is a promising, economically viable option for plastic waste management in Peshawar. The approach provides a sustainable method for recycling plastic waste and for producing useful energy resources with significant environmental benefits.