Turning Plastic Waste into a Profit

Research has shown that people in states where cash is offered for cans and bottles, metal and glass recycling has been a great success. Yet, the incentives for plastic recycling have been weaker and much of the plastic produced pollutes landfills or the environment

A new approach called distributed recycling and additive manufacturing (DRAM) allows people to recycle plastic through 3D-printing and create new products.

Step 1: Sort and wash the plastic

Step 2: Grind the plastic into particles

Step 3: Convert the articles into 3D filament using a recyclebot or use fused particle fabrication to directly 3D-print granulated waste plastic into products

Dozens of labs and companies have developed open source products that enable DRAM.

Not only is DRAM good for the environment, but it is profitable for people to make their own products. For example, a study found in 2017, MyMiniFactory users saved $4+ million in one month, instead of purchasing them.

Read the original story here.