date-created: '2019-10-14'
date-updated: '2026-01-08'
manifest-author:
    name: Appropedia
    email: admin@appropedia.org
title: 'Open Source Waste Plastic Granulator'
description: 'In order to accelerate deployment of distributed recycling by providing low-cost feed stocks of granulated post-consumer waste plastic, this study analyzes an open source waste plastic granulator system. It is designed, built, and tested for its ability to convert post-consumer waste, 3D printed products and waste into polymer feedstock for recyclebots of fused particle/granule printers. The technical specifications of the device are quantified in terms of power consumption (380 to 404 W for PET and PLA, respectively) and particle size distribution. The open source device can be fabricated for less than $2000 USD in materials. The experimentally measured power use is only a minor contribution to the overall embodied energy of distributed recycling of waste plastic.'
keywords: 'Circular economy, Distributed recycling, Energy conservation, Polymer recycling, Sustainable development, distributed manufacturing, life cycle analysis, recyclebot, 3d printing, Open source hardware, RepRap, Recycling, Polymers, Plastic, Waste plastic, Composites, Polymer composites, Extruder, Upcycle, Materials science, additive manufacturing, granulator, shredder, fab lab, Energy efficiency'
project-link: 'https://www.appropedia.org/Open_Source_Waste_Plastic_Granulator'
contact:
    name: U
    social:
        platform: Appropedia
        user-handle: U
version: 24
development-stage: D
made: false
image: 'https://www.appropedia.org/w/images/f/f7/Osgran.png'
license:
    documentation: C
licensor:
    name: U
    affliation: C
    contact: 'https://www.appropedia.org/U'
documentation-home: 'https://www.appropedia.org/Open_Source_Waste_Plastic_Granulator'
documentation-language: e