[HN Gopher] DIY plastic recyclers: open-source machines for shre...
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       DIY plastic recyclers: open-source machines for shredding plastic
       [audio]
        
       Author : open-source-ux
       Score  : 25 points
       Date   : 2021-04-15 20:31 UTC (2 hours ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (www.bbc.co.uk)
 (TXT) w3m dump (www.bbc.co.uk)
        
       | turnerc wrote:
       | Yes there is a plastics waste problem, but the real problem is
       | that it cannot be infinitely recycled in the current process that
       | this is talking about.
       | 
       | Additionally at 03:25 The problem is hit on the head in another
       | way, you still have to sort and clean the plastic before these
       | machines can start.
        
         | bacon_waffle wrote:
         | A large part of all this is about raising awareness, not so
         | much about actually solving the plastics problem through
         | recycling. More people having hands-on experience with the
         | realities of recycling is a good thing.
        
           | turnerc wrote:
           | Indeed, I commend this project for raising awareness but
           | there can only be so much awareness about a problem without a
           | solution currently.
        
             | bacon_waffle wrote:
             | The problem is single use plastic, and there is a solution:
             | use less of it.
             | 
             | Raising awareness of the difficulty in recycling plastic
             | will help reduce the demand for it. Or, who knows, maybe
             | we'll see an even better solution emerge from a makerspace
             | working with Precious Plastics.
        
         | codeecan wrote:
         | > sort and clean the plastic before
         | 
         | I always wondered if there was a way to use QR codes, if they
         | would still be scannable after crushing
        
       | blacksmith_tb wrote:
       | Lots of info on Precious Plastic at their site[1]. The machines
       | are just a little too spendy / complex for individuals, but it
       | seems like lots of hackerspaces could go there.
       | 
       | 1: https://preciousplastic.com/
        
         | imglorp wrote:
         | You don't actually need the machines for some tasks. Sometimes
         | an oven and a mold are enough to get a blank for shaping. Eg
         | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DILMMwH04a8
        
           | blacksmith_tb wrote:
           | That's cool to see (though they have a pretty well-equipped
           | workshop), but clearly the basic principle of shredding up
           | HDPE and baking it to melt should work for almost anyone.
        
           | hinkley wrote:
           | The next video after that one plays shows someone melting
           | HDPE in a tin can. I'm betting that person doesn't know about
           | the plastic lining on the can.
        
       | hahamrfunnyguy wrote:
       | "There's an obvious solution to the plastic problem...recycle
       | more plastic."
       | 
       | No. The obvious solution is to use less plastic. There is low
       | hanging fruit such as single-use items that can be made from
       | other materials. Most plastics aren't recyclable.
        
       | Animats wrote:
       | _" In 2019 the Precious Plastic Bazar processed more than
       | EUR200,000 in sales."_ That's not serious plastic recycling.
       | 
       |  _This_ is serious plastic recycling.[1] 3 big plants in the US.
       | California, Texas, and Pennsylvania. Each plant is about the size
       | of a WalMart SuperCenter. Plastic bottles go in, and food-grade
       | plastic pellets ready for use in making new bottles come out.
       | Each plant can do a few billion bottles per year.
       | 
       | This is not a job for local, woke, participatory do it yourself.
       | This is a job for heavy machinery. That machinery exists. San
       | Francisco and Milpitas have the biggest recycling plants in the
       | SF Bay Area.
       | 
       | [1] http://www.carbonliterecycling.com/
        
         | elil17 wrote:
         | To me the benefit of a project like this is that people realize
         | that recycling doesn't stop when they throw something in a blue
         | bin. Hopefully people see just how impractical plastic
         | recycling is and it motivates voters and policy makers to stop
         | accepting recycling efforts as an acceptable remedy to
         | environmental problems
        
         | hinkley wrote:
         | The most terrifying thing Youtube has put into my suggestions
         | is videos of people 'making their own diesel' by melting down
         | plastic. I can't begin to imagine what sort of PAHs those
         | people are inhaling during the making and especially the
         | burning process.
         | 
         | Perhaps the plants don't actually have to be the size of a
         | Walmart, but the engineering is still pretty big. I wouldn't
         | mind seeing smaller regional centers using mature tools.
        
       | anon776 wrote:
       | We should only sell plastic items in states that can truly
       | recycle them. If you sell your stuff in a type 5 container but
       | the state only can handle type 1. Then GTFO.
        
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