Idea adds zest to recycling push

Orange, lemon and grapefruit peel may be used to dissolve and recycle polystyrene waste.

The method, invented by electronics giant Sony, will be promoted to help recycle some of the 110 tonnes of waste generated by packaging and food containers in Hong Kong every day.

'It's low-cost and light-weight material,' said Minoru Matsushima, the inventor of the recycling method, which he has called limonene.

He was speaking yesterday at the launch of the system at the Productivity Council in Kowloon Tong. The council is helping to promote the technology for use by schools and businesses.

Oil from the peel dissolves polystyrene at room temperature and generates 33 per cent less carbon dioxide than conventional recycling methods, which requires burning at up to 200 degrees Celsius.

The oil can also be recovered for repeated use, while the dissolved polystyrene can be recycled into plastic products.