ITDI turns Nestle's waste into  construction material

By MARY CHARLOTTE FRESCO
MediaCore, STII

Nestle Philippines generates approximately five tons of solid waste every month.  But the giant food and beverage-based multinational wants to re-process such huge junk into anything useful with the help of Industrial Technology Development Institute, an agency of the Department of Science and Technology.

Nestle's waste is mostly made of plastic aluminum laminates (sachets and pouches of coffee, creamer, and Milo energy drink) discarded as scraps and rejects that are shredded, baled, and disposed in landfills.

The partnership with ITDI is in support of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act that outlines an efficient recycle-based waste management system and scheme covering industry to household level.

Nestle Phils. commissioned ITDI to fabricate a grinding machine that shreds plastic aluminum laminates  and eventually turn into fine materials to be used as components for construction materials such as panel boards, ceiling and wall tiles, furniture parts, and decorative products.         

Dr. Araceli Monsada of ITDI's materials science division who spearheads the project said the locally fabricated grinding machine could process 40 to 50 kilograms of laminates per hour.  Laminates posed longstanding serious waste management and disposal problem as these are non-biodegradable and emit hazardous chemicals when burned.

The laminates are technically plastic aluminum with four packaging film layers with varying thickness.  These laminates are usually made of aluminum foil laminated with plastic films of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

PET became an ideal material of choice among large bottling campanies because it provides excellent barriers against oxygen and carbon dioxide.

ITDI experts went over the recycling potentials and tried to apply their usability in preparing new construction materials resource. They prepared options of varying laminate concentrations to determine which would pass severe durability tests, Monsada added.

Products derived from different preparations and concentrates showed varied levels of strength and durability.  Initial findings indicate that finely ground laminates (1.41 mm - +0.297 mm) pressed through hot plates exhibit excellent mechanical strength.

Monsada claimed that the required protocols in processing laminate packs have been established and ITDI's present concern is how to promote and commercialize such "repackaged" products.