Converting Plastic  Nuisance into a Valuable Resource: Reuse of Residual Plastic Bottles for Manufacturing (3D) Home Printers Under Economic and Improved Environmental Considerations

Abstract Plastic processes and products are constantly growing. About two million tons of plastic were produced in 1950. In 2015, about 380 million tons of plastic were manufactured, of which only around four million tons were sent for recycling during the same year. Plastic pollution has become a global problem. Plastic products and waste cause an environmental hazard that disfigures the natural landscape, damaging aquatic ecology, adversely impacting marine habitat, soils, air, causing groundwater contamination, and increasing greenhouse gas emissions. The three dimensions (3D) printing process is utilizing a computer-aided design (CAD) model, usually by successively adding material in layers. Fused deposition modeling (FDM) – frequently called filament freeform fabrication, is a 3D printing process that uses thermoplastic material as a continuous filament. The goal of the work is to build a prototype printer that uses disposed plastic bottles as a source for raw material. The idea for current work stems from the need to save resources and simultaneously protect the environment. A 3D home printer was created for this purpose however, changes and adjustments were made to implement the idea of the project. A plastic bottle cutter was built in order to insert the raw material into the prototype printer. In addition, the framework of the extruder was substituted and a nozzle diameter was installed. Additional adjustments were made in the printer to maintain a continuous and uniform flow of the hot plastic that was poured onto the printer surface during the printing process.