HANGZHOU: Hidden within construction debris, municipal waste and agricultural residues lies an untapped energy resource now referred to as the “urban oilfield” — vast quantities of discarded plastic film that can be transformed from environmental waste into valuable fuel.
Industry estimates suggest that hundreds of millions of tonnes of light materials exist in construction and demolition waste, with polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) film accounting for nearly 50 per cent. When combined with plastic film from municipal waste streams, landfill legacy waste and agricultural mulch, these materials represent a significant yet underutilised energy reserve.
For years, this potential remained largely inaccessible due to the limitations of conventional sorting technologies. PP and PE film are notoriously difficult to separate at high purity levels, as they are mixed with contaminants such as PVC, PET film, wood fragments, paper and sand. The challenge is compounded by the visual similarity between PP/PE and PVC or PET film.
These impurities pose serious risks during thermal conversion. PVC releases hydrogen chloride at high temperatures, leading to equipment corrosion and toxic dioxin formation, while PET requires higher pyrolysis temperatures and produces oxygenated compounds that compromise fuel stability and calorific value.
Addressing this bottleneck, Hangzhou DataBeyond Technology Co., Ltd. has developed FASTSORT-FILM, an AI-powered hyperspectral optical sorting system designed to unlock the value of these “urban oilfields”. Using an industry-leading AI database and 256-band hyperspectral recognition, the system achieves over 95 per cent accuracy in separating PP/PE film while effectively removing harmful impurities.
The result is high-purity feedstock suitable for anaerobic pyrolysis. Through thermal cracking, PP/PE film is converted into pyrolysis oil, which can be further refined into off-spec diesel and gasoline components. Each tonne of PP/PE film can yield between 0.6 and 0.75 tonnes of oil, making the process both economically viable and environmentally beneficial.
By closing the loop from waste to energy, this approach supports carbon reduction goals and accelerates the transition toward a circular economy. The “urban oilfield” concept is no longer theoretical — it represents a practical green opportunity powered by intelligent sorting and advanced recycling technologies.