Alternative Treatment for Plastic Fuel Tanks from End-of-Life Vehicles

Automotive plastic fuel tanks (PFT) are the single largest plastic component on the vehicle. Although they are contaminated with hydrocarbons from gasoline, they may represent the greatest potential of all plastic parts for diversion from landfill. In this study, a large number of PFT from all makes, models and model year cars, were collected and transported to either a municipal solid waste (MSW) incinerator with energy recovery or to a cement kiln with a waste tire delivery system for use as an alternative fuel in cement production. In both cases, tanks were removed and collected at automotive dismantlers, transported to either a MSW treatment center or a cement production facility and delivered to the incinerator or the kiln. Flow rates and air emissions were monitored and recorded, production systems and operating parameters observed, and outputs and waste collected were tested for compliance. Economic data were collected on processing, transport and treatment cost.