The Plastic Trash Crisis<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/img.facfox.com\/imgs\/2022\/11\/08\/027b856045820f94.png\")
By 2050, it is projected that the ocean will have more plastic trash than fish. Source: dw.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\nEliminating plastic usage, from\u00a0plastic\u00a0bags<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0straws<\/a>, has caught the attention of many major corporations. Though it may be appease customers, this pressure to change is ultimately coming from the impending plastic trash crisis.<\/p>\nIt is estimated that, by 2050, the ocean will have\u00a0more plastic trash than fish<\/a>\u00a0in weight! This is problematic\u00a0since\u00a03D printing is becoming popular and finding its way into homes and businesses across the world.<\/p>\nTo combat this problem, several laboratories and organizations are working on turning plastic trash back into 3D printable filament.\u00a0In addition, several products exist that can assist with the collection of existing plastic trash in the ocean. Let\u2019s take a look at some of these projects!<\/p>\n
\n\n<\/div>\n\n\nDuquesne University \u2013 3D Printable Plastic Trash Recycling<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/img.facfox.com\/imgs\/2022\/11\/08\/fb61152b5ca1dd82.png\")
From the Biomedical Engineering program came this process to recycle PLA. Source: duqsm.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAt Duquesne University, students Karli Sutton and Alexander Evans are recycling PLA into useable filament. Conveniently, their source of PLA is biodegradable drink cups from the campus dining service, known as\u00a0ParkHurst<\/a>.<\/p>\nThe students gather the cups through periodic recycling events during the school year. Then, back at the lab, the cups are ground into small particles using a Ninja blender. This material is sieved into a uniform size and added to the Filabot recycling system.\u00a0The process<\/a>\u00a0involves a complex series of sieving, blending, grinding, and printing the material for various biomedical uses.<\/p>\nTheir focus is to use the recycled plastic for orthotics and prosthetics research. Also, there is\u00a0research into its use as a water filter for\u00a0removing harmful levels of fluoride in drinking water<\/a>.<\/p>\nUniversity of California, Berkeley \u2013 Recycling 3D Prints<\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/img.facfox.com\/imgs\/2022\/11\/08\/9f92dcfcf4fb4540.png\")
Students at UC Berkeley have developed a method to recycle old prints. Source: news.berkeley.edu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAt UC Berkeley, student researchers Nicole Panditi and Scott Silva have developed a\u00a0method to recycle printed PLA parts<\/a>.\u00a0Their method uses a Ninja blender to grind up the plastic into small pellets. These can then be introduced into a Filabot recycling system to be re-extruded into useable plastic.<\/p>\nOver 600 lbs of 3D printed waste is created each year at UC Berkeley, all of which can now be recycled. One\u00a0key aspect is that virgin PLA must be added to the process during each recycling round. This ensures consistent mechanical properties and useful printability.<\/p>\n
More information on the process can be obtained at the\u00a0Student Environmental Resource Center website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\nUS Army Research Laboratory \u2013 Plastic Recycling<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/img.facfox.com\/imgs\/2022\/11\/08\/a66b1017c802e292.png\")
Dr. Nicole Zander demonstrates the recycling process for PET recycling. Source: ptonline.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\nResearch at the Army Research Laboratory by Dr. Nicole Zander is focusing on\u00a0recycling water bottle plastic<\/a>. This plastic PET, can be used for military applications, such as aircraft parts and medical devices.<\/p>\nUnlike with PLA, recycling PET into 3D printable filament requires more work. According to Dr. Zander, \u201crecycled polymers have a variety of different additives, fillers, and dyes and may have experienced different processing conditions \u2013 even for the same polymer type.\u201d<\/p>\n
This type of plastic recycling also has applications outside the miliary. In principle, it could be used to clean up existing landfills with appropriate cleaning and reclamation of the waste plastic.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nFilabot \u2013 Recycling Services<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/img.facfox.com\/imgs\/2022\/11\/08\/0082334ca1021d2c.png\")
Filabot offers a filament recycling service through TerraCycle. Source: filabot.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\nFilabot<\/a>\u00a0has partnered with\u00a0TerraCycle<\/a>\u00a0to provide filament recycling for any type of 3D printable plastic. Their method allows a customer to pay for a box that has pre-paid shipping to the recycler. There, TerraCycle will recycle the plastic safely.<\/p>\nThe main drawback to this method is that the boxes and shipping tend to be rather expensive (a small box is $85).\u00a0This aspect\u00a0makes it a useful, yet expensive method to recycle used plastic.<\/p>\n
In addition to recycling, Filabot has engineered a process to\u00a0recycle filament spools back into 3D printable plastic<\/a>. The\u00a0MasterSpool project<\/a>\u00a0aims to change the way that 3D printed filament is delivered to an end user.\u00a0 A user can 3D print the spool, which can be refilled using minimal-packaging spooling as refills. In this way, printing a MasterSpool out of spools\u00a0could become a closed loop that prevents any waste material from reaching the ocean.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nIndividual Use Recycling Systems<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/img.facfox.com\/imgs\/2022\/11\/08\/8f9a0ee0c54e16fe.png\")
The Protocycler+ is an all-in-one recycling system for 3D printed materials. Source: redetec.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\nSeveral companies have created devices that can be purchased so that an individual or a company can recycle their own 3D printed plastic parts. Some can even recycle\u00a0plastic trash back into useable 3D printable filament. Here are a few examples:<\/p>\n
\n- The Protocycler+<\/a>\u00a0(once an\u00a0Indiegogo campaign<\/a>) has generated significant interest since its launch. This is mainly because it is an all-in-one recycling system that currently costs only $1,700. The device acts as a manual grinder, spooler, and extruder to create recycled filament in one compact device.<\/li>\n
- Filabot EX6 and EX2 extruder setups<\/a>\u00a0are used by labs and individuals alike, including the UC Berkeley and Duquesne groups. Despite their relatively high cost, the Filabot is capable of recycling\u00a0nearly any\u00a0household plastic<\/a>\u00a0with the exception of PVC (due to safety concerns).<\/li>\n
- Filastruder<\/a>\u00a0is a popular brand of filament recycler with a low price and a wide range of useable plastics.\u00a0Even PET (think, plastic soda bottles) and other consumer level plastics can be recycled. The only drawback to this system is the lack of a grinder, which is critical for being able to recycle plastic.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n
Collecting Ocean Waste Plastic<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/img.facfox.com\/imgs\/2022\/11\/08\/ef7f7d417cfde0c0.png\")
Conected to a pump, the Seabin sucks trash from the water’s surface. Source: outdoordesign.com.au<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThere are several methods of collecting waste plastic from the ocean, however, one of the most deployable is the Seabin. The Seabin is a bucket connected to a pump system that literally sucks the floating plastic ocean trash into the bin.<\/p>\n
Currently, due to the Seabin\u2019s requirement of being connected to a water pump system, it only works in marinas. Nevertheless, the\u00a0land near the shoreline<\/a>\u00a0is one of the places where trash like plastic bottles generally gathers. According to\u00a0Richard Thompson<\/a>, head of the\u00a0International Marine Litter Research Unit<\/a>, we should spend 95% of our effort preventing trash from entering the ocean, and the Seabin represents a great way to do just that.<\/p>\nOnce plastic trash has entered the ocean, cleanup efforts become significantly more expensive and difficult. Nevertheless, that\u2019s the goal of the\u00a0Ocean Cleanup Project<\/a>.\u00a0Many pieces of plastic trash float on the top of the ocean. A vessel encircling the trash with a large flexible pipe can drag the trash back to the shoreline for recycling. This\u00a0works because the pipe doesn\u2019t trap fish, which can swim deeper to escape the reclamation.<\/p>\nThese efforts certainly help, but not all plastics float on the surface of the ocean. Only by attacking the root of the plastic problem can lead to long-lasting change, which current cleanup methods cannot do.<\/p>\n
A World Without Plastic Trash<\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/img.facfox.com\/imgs\/2022\/11\/08\/8ac0b34874334c3e.png\")
Perhaps an army of robotic recyclers is the key to ending the crisis. Source: tor.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cFrom the cradle to the grave\u201d is an expression often used when talking about the production and use of a product. For plastics, this lifecycle resembles that of a virus \u2013 a constantly multiplying supply that will soon overtake us all.<\/p>\n
We should all do our part and invest in technologies and companies that can help us recycle, reduce, and reuse. Some day, we\u2019ll be able to close the loop and end this problem once and for all. What was once one man\u2019s trash will literally be one maker\u2019s treasure.<\/p>\n
Eliminating plastic usage, from\u00a0plastic\u00a0bags<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0straws<\/a>, has caught the attention of many major corporations. Though it may be appease customers, this pressure to change is ultimately coming from the impending plastic trash crisis.<\/p>\n It is estimated that, by 2050, the ocean will have\u00a0more plastic trash than fish<\/a>\u00a0in weight! This is problematic\u00a0since\u00a03D printing is becoming popular and finding its way into homes and businesses across the world.<\/p>\n To combat this problem, several laboratories and organizations are working on turning plastic trash back into 3D printable filament.\u00a0In addition, several products exist that can assist with the collection of existing plastic trash in the ocean. Let\u2019s take a look at some of these projects!<\/p>\n At Duquesne University, students Karli Sutton and Alexander Evans are recycling PLA into useable filament. Conveniently, their source of PLA is biodegradable drink cups from the campus dining service, known as\u00a0ParkHurst<\/a>.<\/p>\n The students gather the cups through periodic recycling events during the school year. Then, back at the lab, the cups are ground into small particles using a Ninja blender. This material is sieved into a uniform size and added to the Filabot recycling system.\u00a0The process<\/a>\u00a0involves a complex series of sieving, blending, grinding, and printing the material for various biomedical uses.<\/p>\n Their focus is to use the recycled plastic for orthotics and prosthetics research. Also, there is\u00a0research into its use as a water filter for\u00a0removing harmful levels of fluoride in drinking water<\/a>.<\/p>\n At UC Berkeley, student researchers Nicole Panditi and Scott Silva have developed a\u00a0method to recycle printed PLA parts<\/a>.\u00a0Their method uses a Ninja blender to grind up the plastic into small pellets. These can then be introduced into a Filabot recycling system to be re-extruded into useable plastic.<\/p>\n Over 600 lbs of 3D printed waste is created each year at UC Berkeley, all of which can now be recycled. One\u00a0key aspect is that virgin PLA must be added to the process during each recycling round. This ensures consistent mechanical properties and useful printability.<\/p>\n More information on the process can be obtained at the\u00a0Student Environmental Resource Center website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Research at the Army Research Laboratory by Dr. Nicole Zander is focusing on\u00a0recycling water bottle plastic<\/a>. This plastic PET, can be used for military applications, such as aircraft parts and medical devices.<\/p>\n Unlike with PLA, recycling PET into 3D printable filament requires more work. According to Dr. Zander, \u201crecycled polymers have a variety of different additives, fillers, and dyes and may have experienced different processing conditions \u2013 even for the same polymer type.\u201d<\/p>\n This type of plastic recycling also has applications outside the miliary. In principle, it could be used to clean up existing landfills with appropriate cleaning and reclamation of the waste plastic.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Filabot<\/a>\u00a0has partnered with\u00a0TerraCycle<\/a>\u00a0to provide filament recycling for any type of 3D printable plastic. Their method allows a customer to pay for a box that has pre-paid shipping to the recycler. There, TerraCycle will recycle the plastic safely.<\/p>\n The main drawback to this method is that the boxes and shipping tend to be rather expensive (a small box is $85).\u00a0This aspect\u00a0makes it a useful, yet expensive method to recycle used plastic.<\/p>\n In addition to recycling, Filabot has engineered a process to\u00a0recycle filament spools back into 3D printable plastic<\/a>. The\u00a0MasterSpool project<\/a>\u00a0aims to change the way that 3D printed filament is delivered to an end user.\u00a0 A user can 3D print the spool, which can be refilled using minimal-packaging spooling as refills. In this way, printing a MasterSpool out of spools\u00a0could become a closed loop that prevents any waste material from reaching the ocean.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Several companies have created devices that can be purchased so that an individual or a company can recycle their own 3D printed plastic parts. Some can even recycle\u00a0plastic trash back into useable 3D printable filament. Here are a few examples:<\/p>\n There are several methods of collecting waste plastic from the ocean, however, one of the most deployable is the Seabin. The Seabin is a bucket connected to a pump system that literally sucks the floating plastic ocean trash into the bin.<\/p>\n Currently, due to the Seabin\u2019s requirement of being connected to a water pump system, it only works in marinas. Nevertheless, the\u00a0land near the shoreline<\/a>\u00a0is one of the places where trash like plastic bottles generally gathers. According to\u00a0Richard Thompson<\/a>, head of the\u00a0International Marine Litter Research Unit<\/a>, we should spend 95% of our effort preventing trash from entering the ocean, and the Seabin represents a great way to do just that.<\/p>\n Once plastic trash has entered the ocean, cleanup efforts become significantly more expensive and difficult. Nevertheless, that\u2019s the goal of the\u00a0Ocean Cleanup Project<\/a>.\u00a0Many pieces of plastic trash float on the top of the ocean. A vessel encircling the trash with a large flexible pipe can drag the trash back to the shoreline for recycling. This\u00a0works because the pipe doesn\u2019t trap fish, which can swim deeper to escape the reclamation.<\/p>\n These efforts certainly help, but not all plastics float on the surface of the ocean. Only by attacking the root of the plastic problem can lead to long-lasting change, which current cleanup methods cannot do.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom the cradle to the grave\u201d is an expression often used when talking about the production and use of a product. For plastics, this lifecycle resembles that of a virus \u2013 a constantly multiplying supply that will soon overtake us all.<\/p>\n We should all do our part and invest in technologies and companies that can help us recycle, reduce, and reuse. Some day, we\u2019ll be able to close the loop and end this problem once and for all. What was once one man\u2019s trash will literally be one maker\u2019s treasure.<\/p>\nDuquesne University \u2013 3D Printable Plastic Trash Recycling<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
University of California, Berkeley \u2013 Recycling 3D Prints<\/h3>\n
US Army Research Laboratory \u2013 Plastic Recycling<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Filabot \u2013 Recycling Services<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
Individual Use Recycling Systems<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Collecting Ocean Waste Plastic<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
A World Without Plastic Trash<\/h3>\n