Researchers propose converting discarded masks into “burnable fuel to produce energy.”

A team of researchers says it has demonstrated that discarded surgical masks can be converted into value-added chemicals through a pyrolysis thermal decomposition process.

The international team of scientists was led by Professor Yong Sik Ok and Dr. Xiangzhou Yuan of Korea University, based in South Korea, who received great support from Professor Xun Hu of the University of Jinan in China and Professor Xiaonan Wang of the National University of Singapore and Beijing-based Tsinghua University.

The researchers have published their findings in a periodical called Bioresource Technology.They says the pyrolysis of polypropylene (PP), which they call the main component of surgical mask, has already been studied in detail. They add, though, that masks “usually contain other fillers that could affect their pyrolysis behavior.”

The research team said it analyzed how the pyrolysis conditions affected the obtained products, running multiple experiments at different pyrolysis temperatures and with different heating rates, “capturing all the outputs and subjecting them to thorough characterization.”

The researchers found one set of pyrolysis conditions yielded a carbon-rich and oxygen-deficient liquid oil as the main product. Further analyses revealed this oil had a high heating value that “is only slightly lower than that of diesel fuel and gasoline.” In other words, the results showed that surgical masks can be converted into a burnable fuel that can in turn be used to generate electricity or in other applications.

“The story does not end there,” adds the team. They say being able to convert waste into something useful doesn’t necessarily make it a good idea. The researchers conducted a life cycle assessment (LCA) of their proposed methodology to quantify the environmental impacts of the discarded mask-to-energy cycle.

“The results of the LCA were promising, indicating that the conversion of waste masks into electricity through pyrolysis offered better performance than most conventional waste management approaches on several fronts, including less CO2 emissions, less terrestrial ecotoxicity, and less phosphorous emissions,” state the report’s authors.

“We verified that upcycling post-consumer surgical masks into value-added energy products represents a sustainable and promising route with notable environmental benefits,” remarks Dr. Yuan.

“Understanding new ways to turn surgical masks into value-added energy products will help us mitigate plastic pollution and achieve sustainable waste-to-energy conversion in the future,” says Professor Ok. “The novel upcycling route proposed in our study could help us protect Earth’s ecosystems and reach several of the United Nation’s sustainable development goals.”

State organization requests RFPs tied to waste diversion at Maine school buildings.

Portland, Maine-based Ecomaine has issued a call for schools in its member communities to propose projects focused on waste diversion in order to receive up to $5,000 in funding. Projects that focus on waste reduction or reuse, recycling or composting are eligible for consideration, says the group. The deadline for proposals is Monday, May 16.

“Our goal through the School Recycling Grants program is to help schools with their waste reduction and diversion programs,” said Matt Grondin, ecomaine’s communications manager. “We hear from educators that this kind of hands-on learning experience is a valuable experience, and hopefully this funding can make sustainability education more accessible to Maine’s students and schools.”

Schools, including those from pre-K to secondary education, as well as afterschool programs from any of Ecomaine’s more than 70 member communities are qualified to submit a proposal via this web page, says the organization.

Past grant proposals have ranged from purchasing in-school recycling bins or educational resources to offsetting compost hauling fees, litter cleanups or installing water bottle-filling stations to reduce plastic bottle consumption.

Ecomaine describes itself as a member-owned, nonprofit, recycling and waste-to-energy operation that serves a third of the state’s population.

Virginia-based MRC says it hit milestone in early 2022.

The Alexandria, Virginia-based Mattress Recycling Council (MRC) says it has now recycled 10 million mattresses. The MRC says the milestone was “achieved through its statewide programs in California, Connecticut and Rhode Island.”

Continues the MRC, “As a result of this work, more than 380 million pounds (190,000 tons) of steel, foam, fiber and wood have been diverted from landfills and recycled into new products.” MRC also says it has “undertaken research to promote product circularity in the mattress industry and improve mattress collection and recycling processes.”

States Mike O’Donnell, MRC’s managing director, “Since our first program launched in 2015, MRC has provided residents with highly accessible recycling services, diverted many thousands of tons of recyclable materials from the waste stream and created hundreds of green jobs. In addition, our Bye Bye Mattress consumer education effort has informed residents why mattress recycling is important and how to do it correctly.”

Adds O’Donnell, “We share this achievement with the mattress manufacturers, retailers, recyclers, state and local officials, research partners and countless others who have collaborated with MRC to make this milestone possible.”

To create its statewide collection networks in California, Connecticut and Rhode Island, MRC says it tied into existing solid waste infrastructure to obtain mattresses from waste haulers, landfills, transfer stations and public works departments, as well as mattress retailers, businesses and institutions that dispose of mattresses, such as hotels, colleges and nursing homes. MRC also hosts discarded mattress collection events.

“We’ve worked closely with local governments to reduce both their mattress disposal costs and the logistical problems that bulky mattresses cause,” says Marie Clarke, MRC’s vice president of industry and external affairs. “In the process, MRC has diverted valuable resources from landfills and back into the economy,” she adds.

To add context to its 10 million mattress milestone, MRC says it transports nearly 10,000 truckloads of mattresses annually from its more than 300 collection sites to nearby recycling facilities for disassembly. Those recyclers then prepare the materials for sale to scrap dealers.

To improve its operations, find new and better uses for old mattress materials and reduce its carbon footprint, MRC says it is improving its transportation network efficiency. MRC also says it allocates nearly $1 million annually to research projects that will improve processing productivity, recover more recyclable material and explore new end markets.

“Our process improvement efforts are helping mattress recyclers respond to immediate operational challenges while also setting them up for long-term success,” says O’Donnell. “We also welcome the interest that mattress manufacturers and component suppliers are taking in our research as their efforts to create a more circular economy for mattresses accelerates.”

Founder of Accent Wire Tie started the company with just two people in 1986.

Accent Wire Tie has announced that Junius Pickett (J.P.) Sims III died in late February.

Sims, who was born in 1940, is described by Accent Wire, based in Tomball, Texas, and the Sims family as “a man of great character, integrity, loyalty and dignity” who “had a boundless love for his family, close friends and the company he founded, Accent Wire Tie.”

He started Accent in 1986 in a “small, two-person office,” the company says. Subsequently, Accent grew “into the world’s leading supplier of baling wire to the recycling and waste industry,” the firm adds.

“The culture J.P. created attracted the industry’s best and most talented people to Accent, and many are with Accent still today,” states the company in its announcement. “A visionary and risk-taker, J.P. was known for his quiet dignity and unexpected sense of humor. J.P. Sims will be forever remembered for his passions, honesty, kindness and the countless lives he positively impacted.”

Sims’ survivors also describe him as “very giving and supportive of the community,” adding, “In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to your choice of J.P.’s favorite charities: Camp Hope | PTSD Foundation of America and Abandoned Animal Rescue.”

Todd Foreman has been in law enforcement since 1993.

The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), Washington, has named former police chief Todd Foreman as its new director of law enforcement outreach. ISRI says Foreman has been in law enforcement since 1993 and most recently served as chief of police for the Bedford, Virginia, police department.  

“Todd Foreman brings a wealth of law enforcement leadership to ISRI’s national partnership efforts,” says ISRI President Robin Wiener. “ISRI remains committed to strengthening our outreach and relationship with law enforcement in the battle against metals theft.”  

In his role, Foreman will also lead ISRI’s online efforts to deter materials theft that include the websites StopMetalsTheft.org and ScrapTheftAlert.com.  

“I’m excited to work with ISRI and use the skills I learned throughout my career to helping the industry build a stronger relationship with law enforcement,” Foreman says. “We’ll continue ISRI’s longstanding commitment to helping prevent metals theft by creating a team environment between the industry and law enforcement.”  

Before he was appointed Bedford’s chief of police, Foreman served as the department’s patrol sergeant and its operations lieutenant. During his tenure as chief, he led the department to attain CALEA accreditation standards for the first time while focusing efforts on crime prevention and community policing.   

He graduated from Liberty University with a bachelor’s degree and a Master of Arts degree in human services counseling: criminal justice. He attended the FBI Academy in 2009 and served for 16 years in the Pennsylvania and Virginia Army National Guard.