Alexei Volkov
Plastic waste is a pressing global issue, and 3D printing, despite its innovative nature, contributes to this problem. PLA (Polylactic Acid) is a popular 3D printing material derived from plant starches, but it is not always recycled properly. While PLA is marketed as biodegradable, it only breaks down under specific industrial composting conditions, and most local recycling centres do not process it as it is classified as Type 7 plastic. However, there are several options for recycling PLA, including specialist recycling centres, material recovery facilities, and home recycling with a filament extruder.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is PLA? | Polylactic Acid, a bioplastic derived from renewable resources like corn starch or sugarcane |
| PLA's Environmental Impact | Biodegradable, but only under industrial/anaerobic composting conditions |
| How to Recycle PLA | Separate from other plastics to avoid contamination due to its lower melting point; shredding, washing, drying, and re-extruding into new filament |
| Recycling Methods | Industrial composting, chemical recycling, mechanical recycling, filament extrusion, home recycling machines |
| Recycling Services | 3D Printing Waste, Filabot, Filament Maker, Filamentive |
| Recycled PLA Filaments | Commercially available for purchase |
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What You'll Learn
PLA plastic is a popular 3D printing material
PLA plastic, or polylactic acid, is a popular 3D printing material due to its ease of use, low cost, and dimensional accuracy. It is derived from renewable resources such as corn starch, sugarcane, or tapioca roots, making it more environmentally friendly than other plastics sourced from finite resources like petroleum. PLA is a thermoplastic, which means it can melt and re-solidify when exposed to specific temperatures. This property is advantageous for 3D printing as it allows for easy extrusion and layer-by-layer object creation.
One of the reasons for PLA's popularity in 3D printing is its accessibility and ease of use. It is a great material for beginners to start with as it is inexpensive and simple to print with. PLA can be used in both filament and pellet form, making it versatile for desktop 3D printers and more industrial solutions. It also has a pleasant sweet aroma during printing, which is a bonus for users. Additionally, PLA can be combined with different fills like metal, wood, and fiber, giving it a range of characteristics and applications.
Another advantage of PLA is that it does not require high temperatures for printing. This makes it more energy-efficient and safer to use than other materials that need higher temperatures. PLA's lower melting point also contributes to its recyclability, as it can be melted down and reprocessed into new filament or pellets with minimal impact on its quality or integrity. This recyclability helps reduce plastic waste and promotes sustainability.
However, it is important to note that PLA has some limitations. It is not as strong or heat-resistant as other materials, making it more suitable for creating decorative elements, gadgets, and toys rather than structural or high-temperature applications. Additionally, while PLA is biodegradable, it requires specific conditions to decompose rapidly. Industrial composting facilities can provide these conditions, but home composting is generally ineffective, and without proper disposal, PLA can take up to 80 years to decompose in the open environment, contributing to plastic pollution.
Overall, PLA plastic is a popular 3D printing material due to its ease of use, low cost, accessibility, and environmental advantages. Its popularity has led to a growing awareness of proper disposal and recycling methods to minimize its environmental impact and promote a circular economy.
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It is technically possible to recycle PLA plastic at home
To recycle PLA at home, you will need equipment such as a shredder or grinder, a filament extruder, and a spooler. The shredder or grinder reduces the PLA waste into small particles, making it easier to process. Before shredding, ensure that the PLA waste is clean and free of contaminants to maintain the quality of the recycled material.
Once the PLA waste has been shredded, it can be fed into a filament extruder, which melts the material and extrudes it through a nozzle to form a continuous filament. This filament can then be used in a 3D printer to create new objects. However, recycling filament at home can result in lower-quality materials if not done correctly, increasing the risk of part warping.
There are alternative methods to recycle PLA, such as chemical recycling, which breaks down PLA into its monomers or other chemicals using processes like hydrolysis, methanolysis, or glycolysis. This method can contribute to a more circular economy for PLA and other plastics by recovering valuable materials and reducing the need for virgin resources. Additionally, some companies offer recycling services for PLA waste, and you can also explore upcycling solutions like Ecobricks.
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Recycling PLA plastic at an industrial level
Plastic pollution is a pressing issue, and 3D printing, which consumes plastic materials, contributes to this problem. As a result, it is crucial to properly dispose of, recycle, and reuse 3D printing materials. One of the most popular 3D printing materials is PLA (Polylactic Acid), a biodegradable plastic derived from renewable resources like corn starch and sugarcane. While PLA is technically biodegradable, it requires specific conditions for proper decomposition, and its environmental benefits are not automatically achieved without appropriate end-of-life handling.
Mechanical Recycling
Mechanical recycling involves shredding PLA waste into smaller pieces, which makes it easier to process. The shredded PLA is then washed to remove contaminants such as food particles or adhesives. Afterward, it is dried and re-extruded into new filament. This method is energy-efficient but can degrade the material's properties over multiple cycles. To ensure high-quality recycled filament, using a professional-grade filament extruder, such as the Filament Maker, is recommended. This equipment allows organizations to transform their PLA waste into high-quality filament, promoting sustainability and reducing environmental impact.
Chemical Recycling
Chemical recycling, also known as the "chemical recycling of PLA," involves breaking down PLA into its monomers or other chemicals. This process can be achieved through various methods, including hydrolysis, alcoholysis or methanolysis, and pyrolysis or glycolysis. Chemical recycling has the potential to reduce production costs and enhance the sustainability of 3D printing.
Industrial Composting
PLA can also be recycled through industrial composting facilities, which provide the controlled conditions, such as high temperatures and specific microorganisms, required for PLA biodegradation. However, home composting is generally ineffective due to lower temperatures.
Specialized Facilities
While local recycling facilities may not be equipped to process PLA, specialized recycling facilities or industrial compost centers that accept bioplastics can be sought out for proper PLA disposal and recycling.
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Recycling PLA plastic through a specialist service
While it is technically possible to recycle PLA plastic, it is not as simple as putting it in your recycling bin for collection by your local recycling centre. This is because PLA is a Type 7 plastic, which most municipal and community recycling centres do not process.
However, there are specialist services that can recycle PLA. For example, in the UK, 3D Printing Waste provides a PLA recycling service, offering viable recycling solutions for PLA 3D-printed waste. Another UK-based company, Filamentive, offers existing customers a free PLA 3D printing waste recycling box scheme.
If you are a business that generates large volumes of PLA waste, you could consider investing in a professional-grade filament extruder, such as the Filament Maker. This will allow you to recycle your PLA waste into high-quality filament, reducing your environmental footprint and saving on material costs. Before recycling PLA, it is important to sort and clean the waste, separating it from other types of plastic and removing any contaminants.
If you are unable to access a specialist service, you could consider recycling PLA at home using a filament extruder. This involves melting down the plastic and extruding it into new filament. However, this method can lead to lower-quality materials if not done correctly, and it is important to only recycle one type of plastic at a time to avoid contamination.
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The environmental impact of recycling PLA plastic
Plastic pollution is a critical global issue, with over 8.3 billion tons of plastics produced between 1950 and 2015, and less than 20% recycled or incinerated. The remaining 80% was left in the environment or sent to landfills. 3D printing, while innovative, contributes to this problem. PLA (Polylactic Acid) is a popular 3D printing material derived from renewable resources like corn starch or sugarcane. It is marketed as a renewable, biodegradable, plant-based alternative to petroleum-based plastics. However, the environmental promise of PLA is not automatically realized without proper end-of-life handling.
The main issue with PLA is that it is classified as Type 7 plastic, which most local recycling centers do not accept or process. This means that PLA often ends up in landfills or oceans, contributing to plastic pollution. To properly recycle PLA, it must be sorted separately from other plastics and brought to a specialist recycling center or a material recovery facility that can process Type 7 plastics. These facilities will then melt and re-solidify the plastic, or send it for industrial composting. However, industrial composting of PLA requires heating to 140 degrees Celsius and exposure to special digestive microbes, which is a demanding process that is not always feasible.
Another option for recycling PLA is to use a professional-grade filament extruder, which can melt and transform PLA waste into new filament. This method is cost-effective, scalable, and ensures consistent filament quality. It can be done by companies with large volumes of PLA waste or at home for smaller volumes. However, recycling filament at home can lead to lower-quality materials if not done correctly, which increases the risk of part warping.
Overall, while PLA is marketed as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics, its environmental impact is complex. Its biodegradability and recyclability depend on proper end-of-life handling, which is currently challenging due to a lack of infrastructure and the demanding conditions required for its biodegradation. As a result, PLA often ends up in landfills or the ocean, contributing to plastic pollution. To reduce the environmental impact of PLA, it is crucial to improve recycling infrastructure, increase the number of specialist recycling centers, and educate consumers on proper waste disposal methods for PLA.
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Frequently asked questions
PLA stands for Polylactic Acid, a bioplastic derived from plant starches such as corn starch or sugarcane. It is one of the most popular 3D printing materials.
PLA is classified as Type 7 plastic, which is not accepted by most local recycling centres. You can check if your town or city has a specialist centre that processes Type 7 materials. Alternatively, you can bring your PLA waste to a material recovery facility, which will sort and sell the plastic to manufacturers. You can also recycle PLA at home using a filament extruder, a machine that melts and reshapes plastic into filament.
Before recycling, PLA must be sorted and cleaned to remove any contaminants such as food particles or adhesives. It should also be shredded into smaller pieces to make it easier to process.
Recycling PLA can help reduce plastic pollution and lower the demand for new plastic production. It is also more environmentally friendly than composting or combusting PLA.
