Plastic to Green, a company founded just two years ago with a mission to end the wasteful cycle of discarded plastics, is pioneering a breakthrough approach to circular sustainability. Under the leadership of CEO and President Edward VanDyne, the company has developed a patented electrothermal dissociation technology that breaks plastics down into carbon black and hydrogen. The hydrogen is then converted into ammonia, providing not only a key component for fertilizers but also a safe, transportable source of clean fuel. ChemAnalyst spoke exclusively with Edward VanDyne about the company’s vision, its technology, and the wider implications for both the plastics and energy industries.
Q: How does Electrothermal Dissociation process differ from traditional recycling or pyrolysis technologies?
Edward VanDyne:
Traditional pyrolysis typically converts plastics into carbon-based fuels, which eventually release carbon dioxide. Our Electrothermal Dissociation system is fundamentally different. We use a two-stage plasma process: first, plastics are gasified in an arc furnace; second, hydrogen is captured while still hot and converted into ammonia. This ensures that there are no carbon dioxide emissions.
Another important distinction is that we can process contaminated plastics. For example, aluminum from multilayer packaging is separated in the arc furnace and sold to recyclers, while other impurities such as food residues or dirt are reduced to ash. This makes our system far more versatile and commercially viable than conventional approaches.
Q: How does your system deal with contamination such as food residues or paper?
Edward VanDyne:
Our process is designed to be robust. Food residues, paper, and dirt are managed as ash and safely removed. We also accept mixed and unsorted plastics — even difficult materials like mattresses, carpets, and Styrofoam. This flexibility means that waste streams which currently have no recycling solution can be effectively processed.
Q: Can your technology handle microplastics and mixed waste streams?
Edward VanDyne:
Yes, and this is one of our unique strengths. We can directly process wet plastics collected from rivers, wastewater facilities, or treatment plants. That includes microplastics and even nanoplastics. Unlike most technologies that require clean, sorted streams, we are able to handle the entire spectrum of mixed plastic waste.
Q: What market gap were you aiming to fill with this technology?
Edward VanDyne:
Currently, plastics #1 and #2 are recycled at scale. However, plastics #3 to #7 usually end up in landfills, representing about 70% of the plastic collected. Our technology was designed to provide a sustainable pathway for these materials, ensuring they are not left to accumulate in landfills or leak into waterways.
Q: Why did you decide to focus on ammonia as the end fuel?
Edward VanDyne:
Ammonia is one of the most efficient carriers of hydrogen. It is safer, denser, and far easier to store and transport than pure hydrogen. It can be used as fertilizer, in fuel cells, and in engines. From my experience in combustion engineering, I recognized its enormous potential as a clean energy solution that integrates into global supply chains.
Q: Where do you see the greatest opportunities for global expansion?
Edward VanDyne:
The U.S. is supportive, but the strongest demand lies overseas. Europe, Japan, and Southeast Asia are leading the push toward ammonia adoption. Indonesia has announced $1 billion annually for plastic cleanup, and India, with its heavily polluted rivers, represents another immense opportunity for river-cleaning plants. These markets are actively seeking the solutions we provide.
Q: What role can global corporations such as Amazon and Walmart play in this initiative?
Edward VanDyne:
Companies like Amazon and Walmart have massive global supply chains and are under increasing pressure to reduce plastic waste and carbon footprints. By supporting technologies like ours, they can demonstrate true leadership in sustainability. Partnering with such corporations would allow us to scale plants faster, integrate clean ammonia into logistics and fleets, and establish closed-loop systems where packaging waste is converted back into valuable raw materials.
Q: Finally, what are the immediate next steps for your company?
Edward VanDyne:
We are preparing to launch our first pilot plant in Colorado. Construction will begin next year, and we expect full operation within two years. Beyond this, we are developing nitrogen-doped graphene from waste plastics. This material could revolutionize battery technology and make five-minute electric vehicle charging a reality. That is not only recycling — it is energy transformation.
