Giant Microwave Turns Plastic Back to Oil

US company Global Resource Corporation (GRC) is taking plastics recycling to another level — turning them back into the oil they were made from, and gas. All that is needed, is a finely tuned microwave and a mix of materials that were made from oil can be reduced back to oil and combustible gas (and a few leftovers). Key to GRC’s process is a machine that uses 1200 different frequencies within the microwave range, which act on specific hydrocarbon materials. As the material is zapped at the appropriate wavelength, part of the hydrocarbons that make up the plastic and rubber in the material are broken down into diesel oil and combustible gas