Solution of 'treating' plastic garbage with cactus

A Mexican researcher has found a formula for developing new packaging materials from cactus. This initiative suggests a promising solution to tackle the current headache of plastic waste.

According to AFP news agency, Sandra Pascoe, a working scientist at Atemajac Valley University in Guadalajara city, is the one who discovered this new material . " The cactus core is squeezed into water and I use it," said Sandra Pascoe.

Mexican cactus - (Photo: AFP).

After that, the extract will be mixed with other non-toxic additives and rolled thinly, forming large sheets like paper. The sheets of this material will be dyed in different colors and then made into many types of big and small covers depending on the need of use.

"What we're doing is trying to focus on things that don't need to be used for a long time - she says - especially the one-time packaging."

Ms. Pascoe is still conducting additional tests, but hopes to be able to apply for patent rights in the second half of this year and seek partners to commercialize the product in early 2020.

The Pascoe cactus used for experiments is a plant in the San Esteban region, a small town on the outskirts of Guadalajara. Here, hundreds of people are planting it. Since early next year, San Esteban (of Jalisco state) will ban unused, disposable plastic bags, straws and other disposable items.

Mexico City and other states like Baja California also issued similar bans.

In May, Mexico's capital city approved a "historic" ban on plastic bags since 2020. From 2021, straws, plates and plastic knives and balloons will also be banned if they are Made entirely or partially from plastic.

Ms. Pascoe said that with the current situation of plastic waste crisis, her new material, though promising, will only be " sea ​​salt grains".

Based on the dizzying production speed of industrial plastics and the time needed to produce their new materials, the researcher thinks that " other recycling strategies" are needed to create make specific differences to save the environment.

Plastic waste pollution has become a global concern, especially after China and many other countries have issued a ban on the import of plastic waste from other countries.

However, despite widespread warnings about plastic environmental damage, last year Asia and the US continued to increase in plastic production, while Europe fell a bit, according to statistics from the European Plastics Association (PlasticsEurope) published in June this year.

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