{ "opening": "These ranked rows list 190–275 °C (374–527 °F).", "question": "Can I recycle failed prints and filament scraps?", "slug": "recycling", "useCase": "troubleshooting", "useCaseLabel": "Troubleshooting", "updated": "2026-10-17", "shortAnswer": "These threads do not show a home extruder making usable filament. A comment on the scrap thread says the machines they tried fail on diameter, and the catalog alternative is a recycled spool that already has a nozzle range.", "recommendedMaterials": [ "pla", "petg" ], "printerConsiderations": [ "On r/3Dprinting 105khdk a comment says the inexpensive extruders they tried do not work well, because diameter variation makes the filament unusable unless the operator is lucky. Another comment names Precious Plastic.", "On r/3Dprinting t5hl5s the post is a first attempt at melting scraps. A retrieved comment says it is not safe to melt plastic in an appliance you cook with, because the fumes and the residue are unknown.", "Prusament PLA Recycled is in the catalog with no nozzle and no bed. It is not ranked, because a blank temperature is not a printing instruction." ], "pros": [ "The ranked rows are commercial recycled filament with stored nozzle and bed ranges.", "Diameter variation stays a comment about home extruders, not a number invented for these products." ], "cons": [ "No thread here names a municipal PLA stream that accepts failed prints. Empty-spool reuse is a different object from the plastic itself.", "Prusament PLA Recycled has no listed temperature, so the brand people expect is the one this page leaves off the table." ], "community": "r/3Dprinting scmyt8 asks what people do with PLA scrap and failed prints. The comments retrieved from the archive are mostly jokes, plus a link to the Open Source Ecology filament-extruder wiki. r/3Dprinting 105khdk and r/3Dprinting 15hyksn ask if scraps can be recycled or should go in the bin. On 105khdk a comment says tried extruders fail because the diameter varies. Another says check Precious Plastic. On 15hyksn a comment describes modifying a 12-sheet paper shredder. r/ender3 12273n7 asks what to do with an empty spool. A comment mentions an FRC robot that used a spool to hold cable. r/3Dprinting t5hl5s is baked scrap, and a comment rejects melting plastic in a cooking appliance.", "related": [ "pla_print", "filament_quality", "drying" ], "faq": [ { "q": "Does Prusament PLA Recycled list a nozzle temperature?", "a": "No. The Open Filament Database record for Prusament PLA Recycled has no nozzle and no bed. Protopasta Recycled PLA lists 195–225 °C (383–437 °F) and 50–70 °C (122–158 °F). SMART MATERIALS 3D Recycled PLA lists 190–230 °C (374–446 °F) and 50–70 °C (122–158 °F)." }, { "q": "Can I melt scraps in a kitchen oven?", "a": "A comment on r/3Dprinting t5hl5s says no, because a cooking appliance would pick up unknown fumes and residue. That thread is not a printing temperature. The drying guide is the page for drying a spool, which is a different job from melting scrap." } ], "sources": [ { "title": "Protopasta brand site", "url": "https://protopasta.com", "kind": "manufacturer" }, { "title": "SMART MATERIALS 3D brand site", "url": "https://smartmaterials3d.com", "kind": "manufacturer" }, { "title": "Open Filament Database, Protopasta Recycled PLA", "url": "https://api.openfilamentdatabase.org/api/v1/brands/protopasta/materials/PLA/filaments/recycled_pla/index.json", "kind": "other" }, { "title": "Open Filament Database, SMART MATERIALS 3D Recycled PLA", "url": "https://api.openfilamentdatabase.org/api/v1/brands/smart_materials_3d/materials/PLA/filaments/recycled_pla/index.json", "kind": "other" }, { "title": "Open Filament Database, Protopasta Recycled PETG", "url": "https://api.openfilamentdatabase.org/api/v1/brands/protopasta/materials/PETG/filaments/recycled_petg/index.json", "kind": "other" }, { "title": "Open Filament Database, Prusament PLA Recycled", "url": "https://api.openfilamentdatabase.org/api/v1/brands/prusament/materials/PLA/filaments/pla_recycled/index.json", "kind": "other" }, { "title": "Community source, r/3Dprinting t5hl5s", "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/t5hl5s/", "kind": "reddit" }, { "title": "Community source, r/3Dprinting scmyt8", "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/scmyt8/", "kind": "reddit" }, { "title": "Community source, r/3Dprinting 105khdk", "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/105khdk/", "kind": "reddit" }, { "title": "Community source, r/ender3 12273n7", "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/ender3/comments/12273n7/", "kind": "reddit" }, { "title": "Community source, r/3Dprinting 15hyksn", "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/15hyksn/", "kind": "reddit" } ], "recommendations": [ { "rank": 1, "note": "Protopasta Recycled PLA lists a nozzle of 195–225 °C (383–437 °F) and a bed of 50–70 °C (122–158 °F) in the Open Filament Database. This is a sold recycled spool, not a home-extruded one.", "brand": "Protopasta", "product": "Recycled PLA", "material": "PLA", "url": "/brand/protopasta/recycled-pla", "nozzle": "195–225 °C (383–437 °F)", "bed": "50–70 °C (122–158 °F)", "pricePerKg": null, "datasheetUrl": null, "affiliateUrl": null }, { "rank": 2, "note": "SMART MATERIALS 3D Recycled PLA lists a nozzle of 190–230 °C (374–446 °F) and a bed of 50–70 °C (122–158 °F) in the Open Filament Database. Drying is not stored.", "brand": "SMART MATERIALS 3D", "product": "Recycled PLA", "material": "PLA", "url": "/brand/smart-materials-3d/recycled-pla", "nozzle": "190–230 °C (374–446 °F)", "bed": "50–70 °C (122–158 °F)", "pricePerKg": null, "datasheetUrl": null, "affiliateUrl": null }, { "rank": 3, "note": "Protopasta Recycled PETG lists a nozzle of 235–275 °C (455–527 °F) and a bed of 70–80 °C (158–176 °F) in the Open Filament Database. Drying is not stored.", "brand": "Protopasta", "product": "Recycled PETG", "material": "PETG", "url": "/brand/protopasta/recycled-petg", "nozzle": "235–275 °C (455–527 °F)", "bed": "70–80 °C (158–176 °F)", "pricePerKg": null, "datasheetUrl": null, "affiliateUrl": null } ] }