While good in theory, recycling plastics doesn’t always work out well in practice. Most municipalities don’t have the facilities to recycle all kinds of plastic. Even a little contamination can make a whole batch of plastics unsuitable for the recycling process. Plastics in landfills can have a half-life of a few centuries. Considering that, I’m looking at ways to upcycle my used plastics, especially the types that are most difficult to recycle in my area. I used #6 plastic from a bottle of whitening mouthwash to make these magnets. I printed the surface and baked the plastic. During the baking process, I learned that curved #6 plastic can curl up like a fruit roll-up when subjected to heat. I had to use my muscles and a frozen turkey to flatten the curled-up pieces and make them retain their shape! I glued magnets to backs of the plastic pieces. The final product is both one-of-a-kind and eco-friendly. I finally have the magnets I’ve always wanted, but aren’t for sale anywhere.
I’m enjoying my redefined relationship with plastics and looking forward to experimenting with other types of polymers.
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April 2023
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