Converting Waste Agricultural Biomass into a Resource - UNEP

Environmental and Social Considerations 213
This technology will provide farmers with large new markets for wheat straw.
The farmers have currently found mechanisms to dispose of 530,000 tons of
straw but need to find new uses for the remaining 750,000 tons. To help, the
legislature passed SB2086 with provides a $15 per ton tax credit for the
purchase of rice straw (New Uses Council Newsletter, Spring 1997). This
technology is an ideal candidate to assist in off-farm commercial uses of the
fiber.
Investment and Operating Cost 214
Total cost for the commercial facility system is $2,000,000. Electrical power
loads are 400 HP and natural gas loads are 3,800 SCFD for the facility.
Advantages to Developing Countries 215
The Agro-Plastic manufacturing plants are designed for small communities,
providing employment and non-farm revenues at a time when small rural
communities are struggling with depressed crop prices and loss of
manufacturing jobs. This will create additional income streams for rural areas,
while reducing currently high waste disposal costs. This project will yield the
following benefits:
· New cash crop for the producers by selling wheat straw or other
agricultural residue
· High paying plastic's manufacturing jobs (approximately 25 - 30 per
plant)
· Increased tax base
GHG Emission Reduction Potential 216
Agro-fibers have several advantages over traditional fillers, and they improve
the general characteristics of the plastic. In general, the benefits of agroplastics
are as follows:
· Processing temperatures are reduced to less than 400ºF, thus decreasing
energy costs
· From initial test runs it appears that cycle time is reduced up to 25% (in one
case cycle time was reduced 50% - from 2 minutes per piece to 1 minute per
piece)
· Increased tensile and flexural strength compared to unfilled plastic
· When compared to standard fillers such as mica, calcium carbonate and
talc, specific gravity is much lower thus less material is used to make each
part
· Since each part weighs less, shipping costs are reduced
· Reduced wear and tear on molds
213 ibid.
214 ibid.
215 ibid.
216 http://www.agroplastics.com/research/research.html
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