Estimates show that the United States recycles less than 10% of plastic waste. In an effort to improve this situation, the group developed and tested a prototype to recycle expanded polystyrene - a form of plastic that has exorbitant shipping costs due to its high volume-to- weight ratio. Our prototype design reduces shipping costs by two orders of magnitude, enabling small municipalities to recycle with minimal investment. Cost estimates for a local compaction facility and transport to a state-wide recycling facility are less than the current land-fill expenses for small municipalities.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Duquette, Sarah Lynn
• Kishibay, Ashley Janelle
• Miller, Alexandra Jade
• Schade, Benjamin Levene

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-051420-150502

Advisor

• Schaufeld, Jerome
• Sullivan, John M.
• Kmiotek, Stephen J.

Year

• 2020

Date created

• 2020-05-14

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Chemical Engineering
• Business
• Mechanical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright

License

• All rights reserved