Fuel produced from plastic waste to power plane?

Could plastic waste become the next source for jet fuel? Australian pilot Jeremy Rowsell will soon endeavor the first international flight between Sydney and London in a jet powered by fuel derived from plastic waste. According to media reports, the ambitious feat is run by the Altitude Project. The company said that the fuel will be derived from so-called "end-of-life" plastic, meaning plastic that cannot be recycled and would otherwise end up as landfills. The recycling-for-fuel includes household waste such as packaging and wrapping, which makes up substantial portion of waste that is shipped off to landfills. Rowsell's 10,500-mile trip will be powered by fuel produced from five tons of plastic, distilled through innovative technology that converts mixed non-recyclable plastic waste into synthetic fuel. According to reports, the 41-year-old Rowsell will fly his Cessna 172 from Sydney and over Asia, the Middle East and then Europe. He hopes to cross about 1,500 miles a day at a speed of about 115mph. His route will have 16 stops: Australia, Bali, Jakarta, Indonesia, Thailand, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Oman, the UAE, Jordan, Egypt, Greece, France and London. Rowsell and the Cessna (Screenshot: Daily Telegraph) The Altitude Project says that "plastic fuel" is cleaner than that used by most planes, adding its production process is cleaner, and it estimates a lower cost per gallon. Rowsell, who is a hobby pilot, said he decided to undertake the trip to raise awareness of new technologies that are exploring viable, environmentally friendly fuel alternatives. “I saw the opportunity to link the British adventurous spirit and technological innovation of the early pioneers with similar challenges that face us today,” he told the Daily Telegraph. “Aviation leads technology in many instances, why not do it once again with this fuel? If this plan works, it would solve some major environmental problems all at once.” Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter