Editing Tightening the loop on the circular economy: Coupled distributed recycling and manufacturing with recyclebot and RepRap 3-D printing

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[[File:Recycledabs.jpg|thumb]]

{{Source data
| type = Paper
| cite-as = Shan Zhong & Joshua M. Pearce. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.09.023 Tightening the loop on the circular economy: Coupled distributed recycling and manufacturing with recyclebot and RepRap 3-D printing],''Resources, Conservation and Recycling'' 128, (2018), pp. 48–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.09.023 [https://www.academia.edu/34738483/Tightening_the_Loop_on_the_Circular_Economy_Coupled_Distributed_Recycling_and_Manufacturing_with_Recyclebot_and_RepRap_3-D_Printing open access]
}}

A promising method of enhancing the circular economy is distributed plastic recycling. In this study plastic waste is upcycled into 3-D printing filament with a recyclebot, which is an open source waste plastic extruder. The recyclebot is combined with an open source self-replicating rapid prototyper (RepRap) 3-D printer, to enable post-consumer ABS plastic filament from computer waste to be further upcycled into valuable consumer products pre-designed in the digital commons. The total electrical energy consumption for the combined process is monitored and an economic evaluation is completed. The coupled distributed recycling and manufacturing method for complex products reduces embodied energy by half, while reducing the cost of consumer products to pennies. This economic benefit provides an incentive for consumers to both home recycle and home manufacture, which tightens the loop on the circular economy by eliminating waste associated from transportation and retail. It is clear from the results that waste plastic can be significantly upcycled at the individual level using this commons-based approach. This tightening of the loop of the circular economy benefits the environment and sustainability as well as the economic stability of consumers/prosumers.

** Full open source plans to build a [[recyclebot]]
** [[Solar powered recyclebot literature review]]
** [[How to get embodied energy from CES database]]
** [[Improving recyclebot concepts]]
** [[Hot end holder with 3 fans]]
** [[RecycleBot modification - automated feeder]]

{{Pearce publications notice}}

== Keywords ==

 [[Circular economy]]; Distributed recycling; [[Energy conservation]]; Polymer recycling; [[Sustainable development]]; [[distributed manufacturing]]; [[life cycle analysis]]; [[recycling]]; [[recyclebot]]; [[3-D printing]]; polymer filament

==See Also==
* [[Recyclebot]]
* [[RepRapable Recyclebot: Open source 3-D printable extruder for converting plastic to 3-D printing filament]]
* [[Energy Payback Time of a Solar Photovoltaic Powered Waste Plastic Recyclebot System]]
* [[Wood Furniture Waste-Based Recycled 3-D Printing Filament]]
* [[Life cycle analysis of distributed recycling of post-consumer high density polyethylene for 3-D printing filament]]
* [[Evaluation of Potential Fair Trade Standards for an Ethical 3-D Printing Filament]]
* [[Mechanical Properties of Components Fabricated with Open-Source 3-D Printers Under Realistic Environmental Conditions]]
* [[Mechanical testing of polymer components made with the  RepRap 3-D printer]] 
* [[Development and feasibility of applications for the RepRap 3-D printer]] 
* [[Life cycle analysis of distributed polymer recycling]]
* [[Solar powered distributed customized manufacturing]]
* [[3-D Printable Polymer Pelletizer Chopper for Fused Granular Fabrication-Based Additive Manufacturing]]
* [[Distributed recycling of post-consumer plastic waste in rural areas]]
* [[Ethical Filament Foundation]]
* [[Fused Particle Fabrication 3-D Printing: Recycled Materials’ Optimization and Mechanical Properties]]
* [[Green Fab Lab Applications of Large-Area Waste Polymer-based Additive Manufacturing]]
* [http://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21565577-new-manufacturing-technique-could-help-poor-countries-well-rich-ones Economist article on U. of Washington's HDPE boat], [http://open3dp.me.washington.edu/2012/07/woof-rocks-the-boat/ Oprn3dp.me]
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* Cruz, F., Lanza, S., Boudaoud, H., Hoppe, S., & Camargo, M. Polymer Recycling and Additive Manufacturing in an Open Source context: Optimization of processes and methods. http://sffsymposium.engr.utexas.edu/sites/default/files/2015/2015-127-Cruz.pdf
* Another possible solution - reusable containers [https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2019/01/business/loop-reusable-packaging-mission-ahead/index.html]

== In the News ==

* [https://www.hs.fi/tiede/art-2000005689493.html Kodin jäte voi pian muuttua leluiksi tai käyttöesineiksi – Tältä näyttää 3d-tulostuksen tulevaisuus, joka mullistaa muovin kierrättämisen] -- Helsingin Sanomat

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[[Category:Polymer recycling]]
[[Category:MOST completed projects and publications]]
[[Category:3D printing]]
[[Category:Recycling]]
[[Category:Rural community development]]
[[Category:Polymers]]
[[Category:Plastic]]
[[Category:Plastic bottles]]