Plastics challenge – Diverting end of life vehicle plastics from landfills

The program will fund projects that proposed solutions on diverting end of life vehicle plastics from landfills:

• Phase 1

1. Describe a complete strategy for the conversion of ELVs plastics into valuable materials and/or molecules.
   • ‘Plastics’ refers to all types of polymers (thermoplastics, thermosets and rubbers, filled or unfilled).
   • Example end products ‘materials’ include (but are not limited to) polymers, solid carbons (e.g. carbon black, graphite, etc.) or other valuable materials that can further be used in manufactured products.
   • Example end products ‘molecules’ include valuable chemicals, monomers or fuels.
2. Present a clear pathway to commercialization and industrial implementation;
3. Be scalable;
4. Integrate well with the current processes and infrastructures used for ELVs recycling in Canada;
5. Result in a laboratory-scale or pilot-scale prototype system that:
   • Enables the conversion of at least 40% of ELVs plastics into valuable materials and/or molecules, as demonstrated at the laboratory or pilot-scale;
   • Has the potential to enable the separate recovery of toxic substances;
   • Once scaled-up, has the potential to operate at throughputs equivalent to those of ELVs recycling facilities (50 tons / hour and more);
   • Has the potential to bring environmental benefits compared to the current landfilling practice, as demonstrated by early Life Cycle Analysis (LCA);
   • The final Phase 1 report should include the analysis of the cost component of the process and the potential value generated by this technology in order to demonstrate that it is a cost-effective strategy.

• Phase 2

6. Lead to an automated, safe-to-operate, hands-off operation, semi-industrial scale or industrial scale system that:
   • Enables the conversion of at least 60% of ELVs plastics into valuable materials and/or molecules, as demonstrated at the semi-industrial or industrial scale
   • Enables the separate recovery of toxic substances, as demonstrated at the semi-industrial or industrial scale;
   • Is capable of operating at throughputs equivalent to those of ELVs recycling facilities (50 tons / hour and more), as demonstrated at the semi-industrial or industrial scale;
   • Brings environmental benefits compared to the current landfilling practice, as demonstrated by Life Cycle Analysis (LCA);
   • The final Phase 2 report should include the analysis of the cost component of the process and the potential value generated by this technology in order to demonstrate that it is a cost-effective strategy.