Our very first pyrolysis machine has been manufactured! Earthwise Consulting worked with an NPO from Bali called Gerakan Tarik Plastik (GET Plastik) to manufacture our very first pyrolysis machine.

Before going further, let’s review what pyrolysis is, and its role in Earthwise activities.

Plastics are complex molecules made from oil. Different sizes and shapes of the molecules result in different types of plastics with different characteristics, such as hardness, temperature resistance, etc. Pyrolysis is a process that heats up the plastic until it melts and the complex molecules breakdown into simpler molecules that are similar to fuel oil. Pyrolysis is done in a sealed chamber with no oxygen, ensuring that the plastic molecules breakdown, but do not burn.

We hope that local communities can use and sell this fuel for their own benefits. In this way, plastic waste separation and collection is incentivized, local communities will have a method for treating waste plastic, and have funds for community development and more environmental education.

GET Plastik (Gerakan Tarik Plastik: Movement to Eliminate Plastic) is an NPO based in Bali, Indonesia. They have developed small-scale pyrolysis machines to help communities all throughout Indonesia deal with plastic waste pollution. They provide the machines, but are also experts in community organizing and environmental education. They were the perfect partner for our project in Toba and we were very fortunate to have their cooperation.

Even during the COVID pandemic, GET and Earthwise were able to work together to complete the construction of our very first pyrolysis machine.

Our next step is to visit Toba Caldera Geopark and the surrounding communities again to install the pyrolysis machine and organize environmental education activities in the area.

Although we (and the world) still face many obstacles, we are looking forward to the full implementation of the Toba Caldera Geopark Plastic Reduction Project in the near future!