Turning plastic waste into fuel

[0:00]This man collects different kinds of plastic waste and turns it into something useful that helps him save money. He puts the plastic into a closed metal tank, then heats it with a wood fire under the tank. Since there is no air inside, the plastic does not burn. Instead, the heat breaks the plastic into gas. The gas moves through pipes, and as it cools down it turns back into liquid. This liquid is called pyrolysis oil. This oil is not the same as gasoline, but it can be used to run simple diesel engines or water pumps. Even though this looks useful, it is very dangerous if not done with proper equipment. Some plastics like PVC can release very toxic gases when heated. These gases are harmful to breathe. Also, if there is a leak or the pipe gets blocked, the system can explode. Breathing the fumes for a long time and the risk of explosion, make this a very risky method, not a safe long-term solution.