ElCercadoPlasticBottleRecyclingProgram

By: Shaun Thomson, Duy Ngo, Donald Land, Kimberly Ramirez

Overview

-ElCercadoislitteredwithplastic

-Noestablishedrecyclingprogram

-Plasticbottlesareincinerated

-Thisiswasteful,toxic,andnotaestheticallypleasing

-Tobesuccessful,thesolutiontothisproblemmustbeeconomicallyandculturallyacceptable

PotentialUsersofthePlasticResinPellets

-Plasticfurniture

-Clothingfabric

-Upholsteryandcarpeting

-Recyclingbins

PotentialUsersofSystem-AllcitizensofElCercado

Associatedcostsofaconventionalrecyclingprogram-Collectionvehicle(s):

-Employees:

-Drivers

-laborers

-plantoperators

-administrators

-Fuel

-Plantequipment

-Cans

-Electricity

Associatedcostsofaconventionalrecyclingprogram

Fixedcostanalysis:

Assumptions:

1vehicle-- $125,000

Plantequipment:$20,000includesconveyorbeltandpelletizer

Collectioncans:$20/can*5000cans=$100,000

=$245,000= $$$$$

Associatedcostsofaconventionalrecyclingprogram

Variablecostanalysis(monthly):

Assumptions:

5Employees:$100/monthsalary*5employees=$500

Fuel:1,000liters@40Dominicanpesos/liter=$40,000/month

Electricity:$500/month

=$41,000/month= $$$$$

Designconcept

OurprocessisforElCercadosresidentstodelivertheirplasticbottlestoacentralizedcollectionpointinthecity.Thebottleswillbeweighed,pelletized,andpackedforshipmenttotheclosestportforsaleontheopenplasticresinmarket.Residentswillbeimmediatelycompensated.Theoperationwillsellthepelletsontheopenmarketandnetprofitswillbereturnedtothetowntofundandeducationalinitiative.

PlasticResintrading(NorthAmericanApril2017spotprices)

LDPE:$.62/lb

HDPE:$.57/lb

PP:$.50/lb

OurSolution...

Pelletize and sell the plastic on the open market

to market

Designfeatures

• Simple

• Doesnotrequireadvancededucationortraining

• Lowstartupcosts

• Immediateincomeforallparticipatingresidents

• Minimalcarbonfootprint

• Photovoltaic(PV)cellswillprovidepelletizerenergy(electricity)

• Communityinvolvementandawarenessforfuturegenerationstokeeptheircityclean

• Profitsgotowardseducationalprogramsforthechildren

• Thegoalofremovingplasticbottlewastecanbeachievedevenifallresidentsdonotparticipate.(Otherresidentsareincentivizedtocollecttheplasticforthem)

GreenEngineeringDesignConsiderations#1-- Inherentvicecircumstantial

Theonlyprocessinginvolvedinthisprocessispelletizingtheplastic.Nohazardouschemicalsareused.

#2-- Preventioninsteadoftreatment

Thisprocessreduceswaste.

#4-- Maximizemass,energy,space,andtimeefficiency

Smallinfrastructurethatdoesnotrelyonfossilfuels

#12-- Renewableratherthandepleting

Photovoltaiccellswillprovidethepelletizer’selectricity

PotentialEnvironmental,Economical,andsocialimpacts

• Lesswasteforlandfills/aroundtown

• Revenueforcommunitytoredistribute

• Jobs

• Membersofthecommunitycanbuildfriendshipsastheypickcertaindaystorecycletogether

• Morechildrenwillbeeducatedstartingatanearlyageandinturnhelpreducethepovertylevel

• Motivationtoothercitiestoparticipateintheprocessorstartaprogramclosertothem

Sketchoffinalproduct

ProductCostAnalysisProjectedRevenues

Assumptions:

-25,000residents

-2bottles/personday

-13gramsperbottle

-$.50perpoundsaleprice

=$715/dayor$21,495/month

ProductCostAnalysis

Fixedcosts

• 1Pelletizer($8,000)

• 2-lbspringscale($5)

• PVpanels($12,000)

Recurringcosts

• Packagingbags($.03)

• Buildingrent($500)

• Employees($300)

• Contractedtrucking($.3/lb)

• Redemptionfees($.03/lb)

ProductCostAnalysis

Monthlyprofit/loss

Revenue/month ($)$ 21,495.05

Expenses/month ($)Office rent$ 500.00Salaries$ 300.00Packaging $ 171.96Shipping$

12,897.03Redemption $ 1,289.70Loan$ 608.44

Net profit/month ($)$ 5,727.91

Shippingvolumecalculations

ProjectedRevenues

Assumptions:

-50cubicyardshippingcontainer

-32poundspercubicyard(uncompacted)

-150poundspercubicyard(compacted)

-13gramsperbottle

-150lbspercubicyard

=7,500lbsper20’containershipmentor1shipment/5.23days

ClosestPortsForShippingToNorthAmericanMarkets

ExcessProfitsforCommunityProjects

TheDominicanRepublicEarlyChildhoodEducationProgram:Identifiedasaprogramtohelpreducepoverty.Accesstopre-primaryeducationandfocusedonpoorchildrenwhohadgreaterunmetneedsofschooling.

Results:Theprojectimprovedthequalityofeducationthroughconstructionofclassrooms,additionofmoreteachers,andformationofparentcommittee.

DonationImpacts:Studentswillbeabletoobtainavarietyoftextbooksfordifferentsubjects,fieldtripopportunities,olderstudentscantraveltoparticipateininternships.

http://www.globalpetrolprices.com/Dominican-Republic/diesel_prices/

http://www.trashtrucksonline.com/

http://www.ebay.com

http://www.theplasticsexchange.com/Research/WeeklyReview.aspx

http://kdhnews.com/news/is-recycling-glass-worth-the-cost/article_8e2dd0e6-d956-11e2-ab95-0019bb30f31a.html

GoogleEarth

http://epa.gov

http://www.bottledwater.org/

Sources: