Rocket Burn Barrel Team

Rotary Club of Savusavu built and distributed Rocket Burn Barrel (RBB)

The Rocket Burn Barrel (RBB) has been shown to be a safe, effective, and economic way of disposing of plastic and medical waste. Constructed from simple, readily available parts, it burns at 800C which is more than enough to break down most plastics into basic components and not produce the dangerous toxin such as dioxins and furans.
 
Beginning in the 1st quarter of 2024, the Rotary Club of Savusavu built and distributed 42 barrels while figuring out how to do this. Health centers, businesses, individuals, and villages have all effectively and enthusiastically used their RBB to burn and destroy their plastic waste
 
Our goal has been to get these as widely distributed as possible without cost being a barrier for places that can benefit from it. As such, the Rotary Club of Savusavu and other donors have underwritten portions of the cost and will continue to do so. To achieve this goal we would like to clone the process we have used successfully and set up “RBB Teams” in as many places as we can to be able to produce and deliver RBBs across Fiji and beyond.
 
The RBB Team will be trained to:
  • Get the components of the RBBs
  • Build the RBBs
  • Distribute RBBs across their geography
The target size for an RBB Team is three people with a goal of building and distributing 50 to 100 RBBs per year.
  • At least 2 of the 3 team members will be able to actually build the RBB. This is not complicated and only requires being able to use a metal drill and a angle grinder. With a little practice they can be built by one person in about 5 hours.
  • 1 team member will be primarily focused on getting the components, empty barrels, for the RBBs and keeping track of costs and deliveries. We have a simple spreadsheet for this.
  • 1 will be primarily focused on distributing the RBBs which means finding villages and other sites that want and will take one. Then it is getting the RBB delivered and training them in their use. Typically, this only requires a bus trip.
    The total cost to build an RBB is less than F$200 and they will last up to 18months.
    • Barrels (2):         The range has been $0-$40 per barrel.
      • Note: there are many places that will donate the empty barrels at no or very limited cost. This saves a lot of money.
    • Labour:               $100
      • Note: this is paid directly to the team that builds the RBB. The man in Savusavu earned F$3,800 last year.
    • Small parts:        $10
    • Tools:                 $5 (amortized)
    • Delivery:            $20
    The RBB is great for homes and businesses and we recommend having those “clients” make a donation to the program. We have asked F$300 from businesses and F$200 from individuals and these monies go to funding the program. If this is managed correctly, the costs are all covered and the team “breaks even”.
     
    Our team from Savusavu will provide up-front training on how to do all of this, plus guidance and assistance in getting started well. We can help you plan and organize a team to do all of this.
     
    To help get a new team off of the ground and successful the Rotary Club of Savusavu is willing to subsidize up to F$100 for the first 5 RBBs that a team builds. After that we hope that other Rotary clubs or donation sources will fill any financial gaps. Again, with a little luck the RBBs will actually make money for the RBB Team above the $100 for building.
     
    You can find more information with pictures, plans and success stories at:  https://rotarysavusavu.org/rocket-burn-barrel or on the Rotary Club of Savusavu Facebook page.
     
    If you are interested in reducing the plastic pollution in your community and in creating an RBB Team for your Rotary Club, Community group, or village then email me, David Anderson, at: rotaryclubsavusavu@gmail.com