Through 3D Printing it’s possible to recycle many material types, and this opens up the possibility to recycle all kinds of objects, such as plastic bottles, straws, and some single used plastic containers or even fishing nets, that have done so much damage to the Environment. Some materials are easier to recycle than others, depending on many factors. 3D Printing is one of the solutions to help with the Ocean Pollution, specifically with the large amounts of plastic floating in the oceans, and unfortunately threatening and killing wildlife. This is one of the reasons why we want to contribute to solve this problem, even in a small scale on a first level, according to our possibilities.
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There are many ways to help solve this problem, among others: first, by not using single used plastic containers, by choosing long lasting water containers instead of plastic water bottles, by separating your garbage or by spreading the word about this problem, for a larger global awareness. To help remove the big amounts of plastic in the oceans, we can help by collecting the garbage on the beaches or in the oceans, by separating the trash we all produce every day, or by recycling it, as most as possible.
There are several ways of recycling, and one of them is related to 3D Printing by following the process we briefly describe in the next lines. This is just one of the options that exist, and it applies to an FDM 3D printer, with recycled filament. It’s possible to recycle a small object, with particular characteristics. through the filament extruder (the model on the left is just one of many that already exist), or by simply buying a recycled filament, that exist in the market.
By using the filament extruder, the objects are crushed inside it allowing you to transform a small object into a 3D printing filament. This is followed by the 3D Printing process that transforms the filament into a useful or decorative object, and in this way contributing to a Circular Process. If well developed in a more sophisticated way, this process can surely contribute positively to a future Circular Economy.
