Recycling facility transforms e-waste into 3D printing material

A new solution for Australia's growing e-waste problem launched Friday with the opening of the UNSW-designed Plastics Filament MICROfactorie in Sydney.

Electronic waste recycler Renew IT has incorporated this technology at its Lane Cove facility to transform hard plastics from discarded printers and computers into valuable filament for 3D manufacturing.

Developed by the UNSW Centre for Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMaRT) Centre, this marks the first commercial application of the technology outside the university.

The facility addresses a significant national challenge – Australians produce nearly three times the global average of e-waste at 20kg per person annually, with a national recycling rate of only 12%. According to government data, Australia generates over 500,000 tonnes of e-waste yearly, expected to increase 30% by 2030.

UNSW SMaRT Centre Founder Professor Veena Sahajwalla, who spent a decade developing the technology, highlighted the importance of resource recovery.

“Recovering materials from waste has a big role to play as we move towards a sustainable future and reduce our carbon output,” she said.

Renew IT CEO James Lancaster noted that this technology addresses a market gap, as 3D printer filament is currently almost entirely imported and made from petrochemicals.

The facility has already diverted 50.4 tonnes of plastic waste from landfill and created new jobs, demonstrating economic and environmental benefits while supporting circular economy principles.

Picture: credit UNSW