Quang Ninh: Recycle foam as construction material

In brackish and saline water aquaculture, floating foam is made by switching materials. More than 6.85 million foam buoys in Quang Ninh province need to be transformed into conformable HDPE plastic foam. Consequently, communities must devise a strategy for dealing with foam that is not harmful to the environment. Quang Ninh realises a twofold advantage by using trash from foam floats as fuel to burn heat and then converting it into clinker to create cement or plastic items

By the end of November 2023, Quang Ninh province had more than 32,000 hectares of aquaculture concentrated in 8/13 localities, with marine farming accounting for 68%. To date, almost 98% of foam floats have been collected for replacement, resolving the issue of foam waste; Quang Ninh province mandates municipalities to develop treatment plans that meet with standards and have no negative environmental impact.

The heating line processes foam into solid plastic pieces.

Accordingly, the cities of Cam Pha and Ha Long have processed it in the direction of transporting it to industrial parks and cement factories to use as heat recovery fuel, helping to save coal. On the other hand, when calcined at high temperatures, the foam float is ultimately converted to heat without generating a burning smell without affecting the environment. 

Quang Yen is responsible for delivering foam floats to Bac Ninh, Dam Ha, Mong Cai, and Van Don districts for recycling. Over 2 million foams were gathered at Cai Rong Fishing Port and processed using a crushing, heating, and pressurised air compression line. These secondary materials are then recycled into other products. The waste is disposed of under local laws.

Styrofoam, a plastic waste, can cause a burning smell and black smoke when burned, affecting the environment. Recycling this waste can solve the issue of temporary gathering points in localities. The Cai Rong fishing port's gathering of over 2 million foam buoys affects environmental sanitation, fire and explosion prevention and poses a high risk of fire. Recycling this waste can create dual benefits and address the issue of temporary gathering points.

A fire broke out in a temporary foam buoy storage yard at Cai Rong Fishing Port on May 4, 2023. Mr Dang Ngoc Thiet, Head of the Port and Harbor Department of Van Don District Agricultural Technical Service Center, urged the centre to establish a 24-hour monitoring team and surveillance camera system to prevent re-fires and reduce costs for localities and the environment.

Source: ximang.vn