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Plastic waste is one of the most urgent and widespread environmental problems today. Over 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced every year, but only a small percentage is properly recycled. Much of the rest ends up burned, landfilled, or shipped to other countries, where it causes pollution and health problems. Many types of plastic鈥攅specially thin, dirty, or mixed materials like farm films鈥攁re very difficult or impossible to recycle using current technologies. This has led to a global crisis in plastic waste handling and cross-border plastic movement.

鈥淕rowing up in Malaysia, I witnessed first-hand the growing plastic pollution problem across Southeast Asia, where open dumping and burning of waste are still common. Initially, I thought this was a regional issue linked to poor waste management, but I later realised it represents a global challenge that threatens the Earth鈥檚 planetary boundaries 鈥� especially those related to climate change, chemical pollution, and biosphere integrity. This awareness shaped my decision to pursue chemical engineering, as I wanted to find practical and science-based solutions to close the loop of plastic use鈥�, Wong states.

My dream is to make plastic waste recycling not only technically possible but genuinely sustainable 鈥� turning waste into valuable resources while reducing our dependence on fossil carbon.

Wong Syie Luing

Wong鈥檚 recycling system uses electrified induction heating, similar to an induction stove, to break down plastic waste into useful materials like industrial chemicals and fuels. The process is called pyrolysis, which turns plastic into valuable chemical feedstock by heating it without oxygen. In traditional systems, heating the reactor takes several hours and uses a lot of fossil fuel or electricity. Wong鈥檚 system reduces that time to just 10 minutes, reducing energy consumption by up to 85%, making it much more efficient and environmentally friendly.

Since the system runs on electricity, it can be powered by renewable energy sources such as solar or wind, helping reduce the carbon footprint of recycling and supporting global climate goals. It is also flexible in its output. By changing the catalyst used in the process, it can be adjusted to produce either valuable chemical feedstocks like benzene, toluene, and xylene, or fuel-rich products that can be used for energy.

The technology has already been tested with real agricultural plastic films, one of the most challenging types of plastic waste, and also with industrial catalysts provided by an industrial partner. These trials confirm that the system works under realistic conditions and can handle difficult waste streams. The reactor is now at TRL 4, meaning it has been successfully tested in a lab environment using real-world inputs and is ready for the next stage of development.

When asked what is next, Wong says: 鈥淢oving from TRL 4 to societal impact requires not only further technical refinement but also cross-sector collaboration. We need to integrate electrified recycling with renewable energy systems, improve catalyst efficiency, and validate performance at pilot scale. Partnerships between universities, industry, and policymakers will be essential to ensure regulatory readiness, public trust, and investment support. By aligning technology development with climate and waste-management policies, we can accelerate its path from laboratory innovation to real-world adoption.鈥�

He sees his role as a connector between science and society 鈥� transforming advanced research into solutions that are practical, safe, and sustainable. 鈥淏eyond laboratory work, I strive to raise awareness about the role of clean technologies in achieving a circular economy, while mentoring young researchers to think beyond the lab and toward societal needs. My ultimate goal is to ensure that electrified recycling technologies contribute meaningfully to both environmental protection and public confidence in sustainable innovation.鈥� he states.