TREADMILL PLASTIC SHREDDER FOR LDPE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Low density polythene (LDPE) is the most widely used packaging

material primarily because of its excellent mechanical properties,

barrier properties against water, light weight, low cost and high

energy effectiveness. However, due to its ubiquitous nature, and

resistance to biodegradability, the disposal strategies are crucial

and need attention. Recently, microorganisms have become the focus of

interest for environmentally friendly disposal of plastic and polymer-

based waste. (Microbiol, 2012)

Low density polythene (LDPE) has been widely used due to its

versatile nature and effectiveness. Each year, an estimated 500

billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide. After their

use, these packaging materials are dumped in landfills leading to

pollution since they are non-biodegradable under natural environmental

conditions. The recalcitrant nature of LDPE to biological attack was

believed to be contributed by the hydrophobic carbon backbone and high

molecular weight of the polymer. Thus, over the years, the rapid

biodegradation of plastic has been a subject of interest in the waste

management problem. (Microbiol, 2012)

The existing invention with utility model application of plastic

shredder was invented by 何志成 马桂棠 filed last October 29, 2008. The

Plastic Shredding machine which compromises a frame, a motor,

reduction box, a shaft wheel, blades, a discharge hopper, a push head,

a hydraulic and an electric control device. In operation mode, the

push head pushes the crush material to the operation shaft under the

effect on piston rod and the rotary blade on the shaft wheel is

enabled to continuously cut and shred the material. The plastic

shredder has firm and reliable structure and good equipment for

ensuring the crushing process of waste plastic (何志成马桂棠, 2008).On

the other hand this machine is quite expensive because of the use of

electricity.

In order to shred LDPE plastic without using an electricity, a

study is conducted and introduce a machine called Treadmill Plastic

Shredder for LDPE. This machine is driven by treadmill to operate. The

motor of the treadmill is connected to shaft of the plastic shredder

in order to shred LDPE plastics to be used in making tiles by

combining shredded plastic, sea shells and sand so that it can reduced

the number of plastics in a community.