Today, one of the most pressing problems of mankind associated with environmental protection is the problem of plastic recycling, which is present practically in all spheres of life: from computers and cars to containers, bottles and even cosmetics. Only in 2015, 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic were produced, of which 6.3 billion tons are potential wastes.

Scientists from the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry have found a way to convert polyethylene, which is one of many varieties of plastic, to diesel fuel. The process is the interaction of polyethylene with alkanes with short molecules, resulting in more complex chemical compounds, which form the basis of diesel fuel.

Scientists note that this method is revolutionary, because it is less expensive in comparison with already known methods, and the process proceeds at lower temperatures, and therefore can be applied on an industrial scale after some refinement, with the final product being a more environmentally friendly substance-fuel .

However, it should be noted that success was achieved only in the processing of polyethylene, other plastic compounds have yet to be worked on, which is simply vital for the environment, since buried under the earth or falling into the world ocean, the plastic will decompose for hundreds of thousands of years, causing irreparable harm in Including human health.