Australian micro-factory is set to turn electronic waste into a 3D printing filament

The Center for Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMaRT Center) at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia has announced the opening of a micro-factory that will be dedicated to the recycling of electronic waste. This factory will give a new life to the recycled waste by turning it into 3D printing filaments, thus helping to reduce the environmental impact of electronic consumer goods on our planet.

There are currently many projects that are trying to combine 3D printing and ecology in order to offer products or services that are more environmentally friendly. Whether that be with automobiles, corporate recycling solutions, or more natural composite materials. Some similar initiatives being taken in other parts of the world can be seen with the 3D printing of street furniture from the plastic waste of Amsterdam’s inhabitants to Armor 3D with their range of recycled and recyclable OWA filaments.

A sorting of electronic waste is first performed

Recycling waste to create value

According to a study conducted by the United Nations University, Oceania produced 15.2 kg of electronic waste per capita in 2014. This electronic waste would have increased by 63% between 2010 and 2015, reaching a total of 12.3 million tons. This micro-plant project could be a response to this alarming increase and offer a more virtuous electronic product lifecycle by creating value rather than just producing toxic waste for our environment. The latter would be transformed into a 3D printing filament, making it possible to manufacture other useful objects for the consumer.