E-waste refers to any electrical or electronic equipment that’s been discarded. On average, each Australian produces 20kg of e-waste a year, compared with the global average of 7kg, with most of it ending up in landfills.
To address this issue, electronic waste recycler Renew IT has added the UNSW-designed MICROfactorie module to its HQ in Lane Cove. It will recycle the hard plastics from items like old printers and computers into valuable filament or “ink” which will be used for AM/3D printing.
This Plastics MICROfactorie module is the first commercial operation and use of the technology outside of the UNSW SMaRT Centre.
“I’m excited by the positive impact that’s come from UNSW’s research, innovation and collaborative partnerships. This facility has already demonstrated significant economic, social and environmental benefits, so far keeping 50.4 tonnes of plastic waste out of landfill and incinerators. New jobs and revenue have also been created, and the technology is creating a circular economy where materials are used over and over again, maximizing the value of our resources,” Renew IT CEO James Lancaster said.
“Electronic goods are a growing waste problem and even though there have been some recent bans on allowing e-waste to go to landfill, that is where is often ends up. For us, the hard ABS plastics found in so many e-waste items don’t have a market, so this technology is a game changer in addressing that problem. If 3D printing feedstock can be competitively produced by recycling hard plastics, we shouldn’t be producing it with virgin materials and then importing it from overseas, where almost most of the filament in Australia comes from,” he said.
3D printer filament is currently almost entirely imported to Australia. It’s made from petrochemicals, so making it locally from used plastics will reduce the environmental impacts from global freight.
“ABS hard plastics are currently recycled as pellets for remanufacturing, but this is very low value and energy intensive, selling at around $2 per kilo, so not a lot of it occurs compared to the amount of this plastic available. Whereas 3D printer filament sells for a lot more and so this solution is a high value solution delivering real circular economy benefits. I believe Plastics Filament MICROfactories have the potential to revolutionize 3D printer filament creation. I look forward to a time when 3D printing feedstock is sourced exclusively from recycled hard plastics,” Prof. Sahajwalla said.
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