Orange peels could be made into biodegradable plastic

MotherNature Network
By Bryan NelsonSat, Sep 17 2011 at 10:35 PM EST

Scientists discover a novel way of using microwaves to turn orange peels and other plant-based waste into plastic.

Plastic waste is one of the worst forms of trash because it takes so long to degrade, thus overflowing our landfills and polluting our oceans and waterways. But what if we could make plastic from a recycled, natural, biodegradable source?

That's the idea behind a new technology developed by British scientists that uses microwaves to turn plant-based waste, such as orange peels, into eco-friendly plastic, according to the Independent.

Researchers have created a partnership with the juice-making industry in Brazil and have launched the Orange Peel Exploitation Company to demonstrate the technology on a large scale.

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