Assessment of Reusing Plastic Waste as Filaments for 3D Printers and its Environmental Implications: A Chilean Case Study

Laura Stephany Rivera Rojas, Gustavo Gatica, Felipe Andres Rojas Rojas, Erwin Aliaga, Rafael Alonso de la Horra Donoso, Lina Borrero

Keywords: Plastic reuse. 3D-printer filament. Circular economy. Sustainable production.

TL;DR: A study in Santiago, Chile, investigates if reusing plastic as 3D-printer filament reduces pollution, potentially enabling large-scale collection centers for sustainable production and new jobs

Abstract:

Climate change is still an undeniable reality. Although literature on the subject recognizes that the Earth's climate has undergone
variations in the past, the current rate of change is increasing at a rate that is largely due to anthropogenic causes. The increasing
rate is characterized by major effects, which include mega-droughts, long summer seasons, and increased temperature fluctuations.
Pollution, which comes in the form of air, water, soil, light, and noise, is one of the causes of the increasing rate of climate change.
In Chile, 11.4% of the total amount of waste is made up of plastics, polluting the ecosystems where they collect. To address this
issue, several reuse methods have been developed and supported by modern technology. This study aims to conduct a quantitative
and qualitative analysis of the environmental impact of plastic waste in recent years in the metropolitan region of Santiago (Chile),
evaluating whether its reuse as Three-Dimensional (3D) printer filament effectively reduces pollution. If results are positive, large-
scale implementation of plastic-collection centers could extend the material’s life cycle, promote sustainable production, and
generate new economic opportunities.

Submission Number: 5