WHAT THE SCARABTECH BEETLE MACHINE DOES IS CALLED PYROLYSIS: it burns plastic waste to generate electricity.
There are a few catches, though. You need energy to process the plastic and then more energy to run the pyrolysis. Then there’s the problem of emissions because if you’re creating fuel to use in a generator, that’s going to emit exhaust fumes. But ScarabTech is not promising to save the world. In fact, the company purposefully keeps its operations small to serve only communities in need.
What began as an exhibition piece at hippie mega-festival Burning Man then travelled to the local equivalent, AfrikaBurn, and was transformed into a community empowerment project. Amazingly, while ScarabTech develops its technology in South Africa, local regulations do not allow the company to be a 'fuel supplier'.
We asked CEO Jeff Barbee why there isn't a Beetle in every suburb in South Africa.
Beetle sets sail
ScarabTech has a Beetle aboard the Plastic Odyssey, a ship visiting developing countries across three continents to highlight plastic pollution of the seas. According to the French team behind the Plastic Odyssey project, 80% of plastic marine pollution occurs along the coastlines of developing countries. Over three years, the ship and its crew of 10 will make 30 stops of three weeks each, with specific anti-pollution projects planned for each city. The broader mission is to draw attention to the plastic pollution that starts on land, and that's where ScarabTech's Beetle comes into play. It is used to demonstrate one possible solution for disposing of waste plastic. plasticodyssey.org
Why can't we use the Beetle in South Africa?
Denne historien er fra May 2023-utgaven av Tech Magazine ZA.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra May 2023-utgaven av Tech Magazine ZA.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
A SMART SUSPENSION
Shock mounts, which protect microphones from mechanical vibrations, can take all sorts of forms, as this vintage device illustrates.
GROOVING - TO AN ALIEN RHYTHM
In Groove that Goob you need to dance through dozens of levels by sticking to the beat of the music.
FINDING JOY DOWN THE LANE
This whimsical street-management sim is a terrific addition to the cosy-game genre.
ROUND 8 FIGHT!
Tekken 8 is a blend of nostalgia for fans and a pair of welcoming arms for newbies.
ELECTRONICS × INSTRUMENTS × INNOVATION
The invention of electricity opened a whole new world for the design of musical instruments, resulting in all sorts of fascinating experimental devices in the early days and innovative consumer products for us to play with today.
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BASS
Unless you're a basshead you probably won't like that.
AN INCREMENTAL UPGRADE
The base model of the new versions of Samsung's flagship series offers some slightly better features.
IMPRESSIVE ALLIN-ONE SETUP
Offering audio clout without the massive cost, the \"LT\" represents KEF's \"lite\" pared-back version of the LSX II system and very capable it is indeed.
INSIDE A HARD DISK DRIVE
Learn the basics of what's inside that mysterious metal box in your computer.
BLOCKING OUT NOISE
THE WORLD IS FULL OF SENSORY STIMULATION AND SOMETIMES YOUR brain needs to shut some of it out to tackle the task at hand.