How to recycle your 3D prints
Code ♹: The war against 3D printed waste
Summary
Recycling Partners
Downloads
FAQ’S
Almost all FDM 3D printed plastics fall under ♹.
Most councils don’t accept ♹ plastics in curb-side recycling programs.
If your council does accept ♹ plastics, make sure there is a ♹ symbol on your model to ensure it is properly sorted and not diverted into landfill
Check if there are local recycling centres that repurpose 3D printed waste such as Precious Plastics hubs, Local Waste Management Facilities or Standard Print Co. partnered Recycling Facilities.
Let’s face it, plastic recycling is complex. We all want to do our bit to help the environment and minimise our footprint but sometimes it’s just plain confusing to know which plastic is recyclable and which isn’t.
Too often we find ourselves hovering over the recycling bin, rubbish in hand paralysed by indecision. Is this plastic fruit punnet recyclable? What about this piece of plastic wrap? Surely this plastic CD case can be recycled?
With the advent of 3D printing, more people than ever are coming into contact with an ever increasing number of polymers. Knowing which plastic can go in our curb-side recycling bins shouldn’t be this difficult!
ASTM Resin Identification codes
Resin Codes
Thankfully that’s where ASTM International comes in. They have grouped all plastics into one of 7 Resin Identification Codes to help better identify plastics. As it stands, the current codes are are follows.
♳ : Polyethylene terephthalate (PETE)
♴ : High density polyethylene (HDPE)
♵ : Polyvinyl chloride (V)
♶ : Low density polyethylene (LDPE)
♷ : Polypropylene (PP)
♸ : Polystyrene (PS)
♹ : Other
3D Printing plastics
Notice that none of the plastics commonly used for 3D printing appear on the list above? (except HIPS) That’s because the following plastics all fall under ♹ - a catch all category for a wide variety of plastics that encompasses petroleum based plastics such as ASA and ABS to bioplastics such as PLA. Currently the following plastics fall under ♹:
ABS
ASA
Nylon
PLA
PETG
Recyclability
While resin codes ♳, ♴ and ♵ are almost all universally accepted by local councils for curb-side recycling collection, collection of numbers ♶, ♷, ♸ and ♹ vary from council to council with most choosing not to recycle plastics that fall under ♹. While it pays to check if your council is more forward thinking that others, most councils nationwide suggest that ♹ plastics are placed in the general waste bin and are destined for landfill.
Recycling Facilities
This is by no means the end of the road for 3D printed waste recycling as some recycling facilities and institutions may still have need of 3D printed waste. Institutions like Precious Plastics, specialised recycling centres and even universities may be willing to accept specific plastics.
We’ve partnered with the Michel Crouch Innovation Centre at UNSW to collect, process and repurpose 3D printed waste into a variety of useful products. Should you have clean, uncontaminated and well sorted 3D printed waste, you may be eligible to drop it off at one of our collection points for recycling.
Click here to check out out list of partnered institutions that help repurpose 3D printed waste.
Labelling Plastics
If you’re one of the lucky few who live in an area that does recycle ♹ plastics, it’s important to label your 3D prints with the proper resin code as unidentifiable plastics are pulled off the recycling line and diverted to landfill. If you’re looking to recycle your 3D printed waste, it’s important to design a ♹ symbol somewhere visible on the surface of the print so it can be identified.
FAQ’s
+ Which of my 3D printing plastics can I recycle in my curb-side recycling bin?
Only HIPS which falls under resin code ♸ Polystyrene (PS).
Almost all other 3D printed plastics fall under resin ♹.
In Australia almost all councils are unable to recycle ♹ plastics. As such, they can’t be placed in your curb-side recycling bin and are destined for the general waste bin.
Note: Some councils do make exceptions and may accept ♹ plastics for curb-side recycling so it’s worth contacting them to be sure.
+ How can I recycle my 3D printed waste?
Step 1: Check if your local council accepts and recycles ♹ plastics.
If they do: Make sure your prints have a ♹ symbol somewhere visible on the surface of the print so it can be identified or it will end up in landfill despite your best efforts.
If they don’t: Go to step 2.
Step 2: Check if you have a local partnered facility that repurposes 3D printed waste close by.
If you are close to a facility: Ensure your 3D printed waste is grouped by material clear from any contaminants. Drop your 3D printed waste off at your local facility during their opening hours. Again, ensure your prints have a ♹ symbol somewhere visible on the surface of the print.
If you are not close to a facility: Place 3D printed waste in general waste bin.
+ Do you know of any local facilities that will accept my 3D printed waste?
Yes!
Institutions like Precious Plastics, specialised recycling centres and even universities may be willing to accept specific plastics.
Click here to check out out list of partnered institutions that help us repurpose 3D printed waste.
+ PETE (PET) is recyclable in most states. Can PETG can be recycled?
Unfortunately not.
Although PETE (PET) and PETG may differ by a single letter, the glycol present in PETG results the plastics having slightly different melting temperatures. When processed together, the PETG melts and becomes sticky while the PETE stays solid. This causes the materials to clump together and causes problems in the recycling process. As such, PETG is currently not accepted in most councils in Australia for curb-side collection.
Note: Some councils do make exceptions and your local council may differ.