July 06, 2016

ECO-SPOTLIGHT: PRECIOUS PLASTIC & THE DIY RECYCLING MACHINE

Precious Plastic takes the art of DIY to the next level. Thanks to Precious Plastic, anyone can start their own workshop and create something new from recycled plastic.

PHOTO CREDIT: PRECIOUS PLASTICS

As Precious Plastic reminds us,

“THE WORLD IS SUBMERGED WITH PLASTIC, FROM THE HIMALAYAS TO THE DEPTHS OF THE ATLANTIC OCEAN, WE HAVE TONS OF TOXIC PLASTIC LAYING AROUND." 

This plastic is available to us free of charge, so shouldn’t we start recognizing the value of plastic waste and put it to good use? Precious Plastic will help you do just that!  

Recognizing the enormity of plastic pollution on Earth and frustrated by the red tape surrounding the recycling industry, Precious Plastic founder Dave Hakkens set out to revolutionize the way we recycle plastic in our home and communities. He developed recycling machines that anyone can build using basic tools and affordable materials available anywhere in the world. These machines can be used by anyone, anytime, anywhere. 

While it may seem more difficult than your average DIY project, the Precious Plastic team provides all the information you need to get started and make a difference in the world: machine blueprints, project plans, detailed instructions and video tutorials - available free of charge at http://preciousplastic.com. You can also find a local machine builder through their online forum if you need someone build the machine for you.

Let’s face it, we have a complicated relationship with plastic.

We can’t live with it and we can’t live without it. On the one hand, plastic is extremely useful, as evidenced by the fact that we’re surrounded by it. Plastic is in our homes, cars, cell phones, clothing and even furniture. Approximately 4% of the world’s oil production is used to make plastic. Global plastic production has gone from 1.5 million tons in 1950 to over 288 million tons in 2012, and rising.

PHOTO CREDIT FOR IMAGES ABOVE: PRECIOUS PLASTICS

Less than 10% of the world’s plastic actually gets recycled.

22-43% of it ends up in landfills, and approximately 8 million metric tons of plastic enters the ocean each year. When not recycled properly, plastic ends up in landfills leaching toxins into water and soil, or in the ocean wreaking havoc on the marine environment and causing extreme harm to birds and sealife.

Believe it or not, recycled plastic can be turned into much more than just the next Smart Water bottle. From raw materials to functional objects and even art, the Precious Plastic team provides video tutorials to walk you through the entire process. Blend different plastics, patterns and colors to create unique recycled products you can use or sell. Storing plastic to create your next masterpiece can get messy, so we suggest using your RE.BIN to keep everything organized and out of the way.

The Precious Plastic team wants to spread the know-how to boost plastic recycling around the globe. To date, the Precious Plastic project and DIY recycling machine has reached over 229 countries and you too can help spread the word by sharing the project with your friends, family and community. After all, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.