Automatic Plastic Shredder Machine Integrated with Plastic

Extruder for Plastic Waste Recycling

𝐴𝑙𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝐺𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑛 𝑀𝑎𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑚1 , 𝐵𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑛𝑒𝑦 𝑆. 𝑃𝑎ℎ𝑎𝑚𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑔2 , 𝑃𝑎𝑢𝑙 𝑅𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶. 𝑅𝑒𝑏𝑎𝑦𝑙𝑎 3
1,2,3Mechanical Engineering Program, College of Engineering Education
University of Mindanao, Matina, Davao City, Philippines

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

Introduction and engagement from the public and

industry in recycling efforts, which often
Plastic waste is a significant
leads to low rates of plastic waste collection
environmental problem with harmful
and recycling [3]. In addition to the
impacts on ecosystems, human health, and
challenges of plastic waste recycling, there
the economy. Despite growing awareness
are also environmental concerns associated
of this issue, only a small proportion of
with the production and disposal of plastic.
plastic waste is currently recycled.
Plastic production involves the use of fossil
Recycling is a crucial component of waste
fuels, which contributes to climate change,
management, and it has the potential to
and the disposal of plastic waste can result
mitigate the environmental impact of
in the release of toxic chemicals and the
plastic waste. However, recycling also
pollution of waterways and oceans [2].
faces various challenges and limitations
that require urgent attention. Plastic waste According to news reports and
can be seen littering streets, rivers, and Darrell Blatchley from Davao City, 63
oceans, posing risks to wildlife and human whales and dolphins have been found dead
health. In the United States alone, it is in the Davao Gulf since 2009, with 47 of
estimated that over 32 million tons of them swallowing plastic trash mistaken for
plastic waste were generated in 2017, and food [4]. Furthermore, there have been
only about 9% of that was recycled [1]. The numerous reports of turtles choking and
situation is similar in many other countries, dying because of plastic bags and straws [5].
where limited waste management According to the Sea Turtle Conservancy,
infrastructure and low levels of recycling plastic debris in the ocean kills over one
have resulted in significant plastic pollution. million marine animals each year.
One of the main challenges of In the Philippines, plastic waste has
plastic waste recycling is the lack of become a significant issue, with large
effective and efficient recycling quantities of plastic waste generated and
infrastructure. There is a lack of limited waste management infrastructure to
standardization in recycling practices and handle it. In recent years, efforts have been
technologies, and there is often a limited made to address this problem, but there is
market demand for recycled plastics [2]. still much work to be done. The Philippines
Furthermore, there is a lack of awareness is one of the world's largest contributors to
ocean plastic pollution, with an estimated Moreover, this study aims to answer the
2.7 million tons of plastic waste generated following questions:
each year [6]. This waste presents a
1. Is the device effective and efficient in
challenge for waste management systems,
the aspect of reducing plastic waste?
as plastic waste can take hundreds of years
2. What does the mechanism use in the
to decompose and is often difficult to
study?
recycle.
3. What is the efficiency rate of the
Globally, plastic waste has been machines?
recognized as a major environmental issue,
Review Related Literature
with impacts ranging from the pollution of
waterways and oceans to the release of
Plastic Waste Recycling
greenhouse gases during production and
disposal. The United Nations has identified Plastic waste recycling is an
plastic pollution as one of the world's most important strategy for reducing the negative
pressing environmental challenges and has environmental impacts of plastic waste.
launched initiatives to address this issue [7]. The high volume of plastic waste generated
It is estimated that globally, approximately globally is a major environmental concern,
300 million tons of plastic waste are with estimates suggesting that over 380
generated each year, and this number is million tons of plastic waste are generated
projected to double by 2034 [2]. This waste annually [2]. Unfortunately, a massive
presents a challenge for waste management portion of this waste ends up in landfills,
systems, as plastic waste can take hundreds oceans, and other natural habitats, leading
of years to decompose and is often difficult to environmental degradation, health
hazards, and economic losses. Recycling
to recycle.
plastic waste is, therefore, an essential
The problem of plastic waste and component of sustainable waste
waste recycling requires a multidisciplinary management, as it can help reduce the
approach to develop solutions that address amount of plastic waste that ends up in
the economic, social, and environmental landfills and natural habitats. In addition,
recycling also conserves natural resources
aspects of the problem. We, the researchers
and reduces energy consumption, which is
will design and develop an efficient plastic
critical for mitigating climate change [8].
shredder machine with extruder for plastic
waste recycling that can help to solve the Plastic waste recycling is a
problem regarding the plastic waste and complex process that requires the use of
promote sustainable waste management advanced technologies and innovative
practice. The following review will provide an strategies. It involves collecting, sorting,
overview of the current research on the use of processing, and transforming plastic waste
automatic plastic shredders integrated with into new materials or products. Despite its
plastic extruders for plastic waste recycling. importance, plastic waste recycling faces
several challenges, including the excessive
Statement of the Problem cost of recycling, low recycling rates, and a
This study aims to develop and lack of adequate infrastructure for recycling.
fabricate a cost-effective and eco-friendly Nevertheless, research and development
efforts have focused on improving plastic
automatic plastic shredder with integrated
waste recycling technologies and
extruder machine that helps to reduce in
promoting their adoption on a large scale.
reducing the plastic waste pollution.
 Several studies have been The development of shredding
conducted to evaluate the benefits and machines for plastic waste management
challenges associated with plastic waste cannot be underestimated. Previous studies
recycling. For instance, a report by the have developed many waste shredders, both
McKinsey Center for Business and from plastic waste types (high-density
Environment [9] provides an analysis of the polyethylene, polyethylene, polypropylene,
economic and environmental benefits of polyethylene terephthalate, thermoplastic
plastic waste recycling and proposes a composites) [12], [13], [14], [15]– [16],
roadmap for transitioning to a circular electronic waste [17], agricultural waste
economy for plastics. In addition, a study [18], cardboard and paper [19], [20].
by Abhijit Das et al. [10] reviews the
current state-of-the-art in mechanical The plastic shredder machine
recycling technologies for plastic waste and designed by [21] produces low efficiency
identifies the challenges and opportunities and output because the blades are not
associated with the process. manufactured using a CNC machine. The
shredder machine’s blade construction
In conclusion, plastic waste relies on the manufacturing method of
recycling is an important strategy for cutting and joining steel plates using the
mitigating the negative environmental welding process. Research conducted by
impacts of plastic waste. Despite the [13] designed a shredder machine for
challenges associated with plastic waste chopping HDPE, Polyethylene
recycling, research and development efforts Terephthalate (PET), and PVC plastic
are ongoing to improve recycling waste using a belt drive and gears to avoid
technologies and promote their adoption on the disadvantages of the commonly used
a large scale. single belt crusher.

Plastic Shredder Machine Adeosun et al. [22] proposed a new

design for a plastic crushing machine that
A plastic shredder is a machine was more efficient in terms of energy
that breaks down plastic waste into smaller consumption and material handling in their
pieces, usually in the form of pellets or research. Furthermore, plastic shredders
flakes, for further processing or recycling. have been used in the development of new
Plastic shredders come in a variety of sizes recycled plastic materials and products.
and designs, ranging from small portable Oraifige et al. [23] investigated the use of a
devices to large industrial machines capable plastic shredder machine to create
of processing substantial amounts of plastic composite materials from recycled plastic,
waste. According to research, plastic which could be used in the construction
shredders have the potential to address the industry. In conclusion, plastic shredding
growing problem of plastic waste and machines have the potential to help with
promote sustainable waste management sustainable waste management and the
practices. According to Lee et al. [11], a development of new materials from
small plastic shredder effectively reduces recycled plastic. More research and
the volume of plastic waste and improves development are required to improve the
waste management in resource-poor design and efficiency of plastic shredders
environments. Other studies have and promote their widespread use.
concentrated on the design and
optimization of plastic shredding machines Plastic Extruder Machine
to improve their efficiency and
effectiveness. Plastic extruder machines are an
essential part of the plastic manufacturing
industry. They are used to melt and shape waste using an extruder machine in a small
plastic pellets or granules into various rural community in Kenya. The study found
shapes and forms. The machine consists of that the use of extrusion technology
a hopper, a screw or barrel, and a die. The reduced plastic waste, created new business
hopper is where the plastic is added, and the opportunities, and contributed to a more
screw or barrel pushes the plastic through sustainable and circular economy.
the die, which determines the shape of the
final product. Plastic extrusion technology Another study by Panda et al. [28]
has many advantages in the production of investigated the potential of using extrusion
various plastic products, including cost- technology to recycle mixed plastic waste,
effectiveness, versatility, and speed. which is difficult to recycle using
traditional methods. The study found that
In recent years, plastic extrusion extrusion technology could effectively
technology has gained attention for its recycle mixed plastic waste and produce
potential role in recycling plastic waste. high-quality recycled plastic products.
Recycling plastic waste through extrusion
technology can significantly reduce the Overall, plastic extrusion
amount of plastic waste in the environment technology has the potential to significantly
and conserve resources. Additionally, it can contribute to the recycling and management
also generate a new source of income and of plastic waste. With advanced
job opportunities for individuals and technologies and innovative solutions, the
communities. plastic manufacturing industry can play a
vital role in reducing plastic waste and
Research on plastic extruder conserving resources.
machines has focused on various aspects,
such as process optimization, product Automatic Plastic Shredder and Plastic
quality, and sustainability. For example, Extruder Machine
one study explored the use of mathematical
models to optimize the extrusion process As the use of plastic products
and improve product quality [24]. Other continues to increase, so does the amount of
researchers have investigated the use of plastic waste that is generated, creating an
recycled plastic in the extrusion process to alarming environmental concern. In recent
reduce waste and improve sustainability years, the recycling of plastic waste using
[25]. In addition, there has been a growing plastic shredder and extruder machines has
interest in the development of extrusion- become an important solution to address
based 3D printing technology, which uses this problem. The integration of an
plastic extruder machines to produce automatic plastic shredder and plastic
complex plastic parts with high precision extruder provides a cost-effective and
and accuracy [26]. This technology has the efficient approach to recycling plastic waste.
potential to revolutionize the way plastic
products are manufactured and increase the An automatic plastic shredder
efficiency of the production process. integrated with a plastic extruder machine
can significantly reduce the time and effort
Research has shown that plastic required for plastic recycling. The shredder
extrusion technology is a promising method can break down large plastic waste items
for recycling plastic waste, especially in into smaller pieces, which can then be fed
developing countries where waste into the extruder to produce new plastic
management infrastructure is lacking. For products. This process not only helps to
instance, a study conducted by Kostamo et reduce plastic waste but also minimizes the
al. [27] investigated the recycling of plastic
amount of energy required to produce new 1. Blades geometry to shred different
plastic products. kinds of plastics.
2. Cutting angle of blade
Several studies have shown that 3. Number of cutting edge
the use of plastic shredder and extruder 4. Integration of two machines for
machines can effectively recycle plastic recycling
waste. For example, a study conducted by
5. The design of the nozzle
Gomis et al. [29] showed that the use of a
6. The use of compression screw for
plastic shredder and extruder can reduce the
environmental impact of plastic waste efficient extrusion.
while improving the economic benefits of 7. The simulation of different mechanical
recycling. Another study by Al-Salem et al. mechanism
[30] showed the technical and economic 8. Having a non-plastic detector/sensor
feasibility of using an extruder to recycle 9. Having an overheating controller
plastic waste, which could help reduce the 10. Double shaft mechanism
environmental impact of plastic waste.
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