Our biochar crew has been exploring the world of recycling plastics; from detailed technical expertise to an understanding of global trade and the habits of individual consumers. We’ll explore downsides of our cheap plastics based economy, while acknowledging the benefits of plastics as appropriate materials in certain applications. While some plastics are food safe, corrosion resistant, tough, affordable and easily repurposed, others are inherently toxic and can never be properly recycled. We’ll discuss some common strategies and innovative ideas for reducing and reusing plastics in our daily lives.
In part 4, we begin outside as Dan Hettinger describes the ‘wastebot,’ an open source design that processes gases from plastic waste materials.
Can you comment on the economics of this? It looks like a labor intensive process, which high capital costs to create a low value product. Is there a path that this would ever solve the plastic packaging problem? Seems like what really has to happen is to use less plastic in packaging to begin with.
Hey Dan, what you do is awesome. Here are tips to get injection easier:
– 18:32 you shouldn't relaese your effort as soon as the mold is filled and close the valve. On the contrary, maintain pressure until the material sets, and even longer for thick pieces. This helps to limit the effects of contraction. Of course, the valve must remain hot enough to be closed for the next piece.
– 25:52 with a file, give a slight angle to the walls of your mold to ease the release of pieces. The smoother the surfaces the better…
Hope this helps.