# Can I recycle failed prints and filament scraps?

These ranked rows list 190–275 °C (374–527 °F).

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.

Buy a recycled spool with a published nozzle range, or throw the scrap out. The threads that try to turn failed PLA into filament describe diameter trouble, and they do not leave a recipe.

## Home extrusion

[r/3Dprinting scmyt8](https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/scmyt8/) asks what to do with PLA scrap. One retrieved comment links the Open Source Ecology filament-extruder wiki. The other retrieved comments are jokes.

[r/3Dprinting 105khdk](https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/105khdk/) asks whether scraps can be recycled. A comment says the extruders they tried do not work well, because diameter variation makes the result unusable unless the person is lucky. Another comment says look at Precious Plastic. [r/3Dprinting 15hyksn](https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/15hyksn/) repeats the scrap question. A comment there is about modifying a 12-sheet paper shredder. Neither thread names a curbside PLA program.

[r/3Dprinting t5hl5s](https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/t5hl5s/) is a first attempt at melting scraps. A retrieved comment says not to melt plastic in an appliance you cook with. [Drying](/answers/drying) is for a spool that will be printed again. It is not a melting temperature.

[r/ender3 12273n7](https://www.reddit.com/r/ender3/comments/12273n7/) is an empty spool, not the plastic. A comment mentions a robot that used a spool as a cable holder.

## Recycled filament you can load

[Protopasta Recycled PLA](/brand/protopasta/recycled-pla) lists 195–225 °C (383–437 °F) and a bed of 50–70 °C (122–158 °F). [SMART MATERIALS 3D Recycled PLA](/brand/smart-materials-3d/recycled-pla) lists 190–230 °C (374–446 °F) and 50–70 °C (122–158 °F). [Protopasta Recycled PETG](/brand/protopasta/recycled-petg) lists 235–275 °C (455–527 °F) and 70–80 °C (158–176 °F). [PLA](/material/pla) and [PETG](/material/petg) are the hubs. [Protopasta](/brand/protopasta) and [SMART MATERIALS 3D](/brand/smart-materials-3d) are the brand pages.

[Prusament PLA Recycled](/brand/prusament/pla-recycled) is in the catalog with no nozzle and no bed, so it is not in the ranking. [PLA printing](/answers/pla_print) is how to print a PLA that does have a range. [Filament quality](/answers/filament_quality) is what inconsistent diameter looks like once it is on the printer.

Updated 2026-10-17. Sources accessed 2026-10-17. Use case: Troubleshooting.

## Ranked filaments

| Rank | Filament | Nozzle | Bed | Price per kg |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Protopasta Recycled PLA | 195–225 °C (383–437 °F) | 50–70 °C (122–158 °F) | — |
| 2 | SMART MATERIALS 3D Recycled PLA | 190–230 °C (374–446 °F) | 50–70 °C (122–158 °F) | — |
| 3 | Protopasta Recycled PETG | 235–275 °C (455–527 °F) | 70–80 °C (158–176 °F) | — |

## What the community says

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.

## Sources

- [Protopasta brand site](https://protopasta.com) (manufacturer)
- [SMART MATERIALS 3D brand site](https://smartmaterials3d.com) (manufacturer)
- [Open Filament Database, Protopasta Recycled PLA](https://api.openfilamentdatabase.org/api/v1/brands/protopasta/materials/PLA/filaments/recycled_pla/index.json) (other)
- [Open Filament Database, SMART MATERIALS 3D Recycled PLA](https://api.openfilamentdatabase.org/api/v1/brands/smart_materials_3d/materials/PLA/filaments/recycled_pla/index.json) (other)
- [Open Filament Database, Protopasta Recycled PETG](https://api.openfilamentdatabase.org/api/v1/brands/protopasta/materials/PETG/filaments/recycled_petg/index.json) (other)
- [Open Filament Database, Prusament PLA Recycled](https://api.openfilamentdatabase.org/api/v1/brands/prusament/materials/PLA/filaments/pla_recycled/index.json) (other)
- [Community source, r/3Dprinting t5hl5s](https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/t5hl5s/) (reddit)
- [Community source, r/3Dprinting scmyt8](https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/scmyt8/) (reddit)
- [Community source, r/3Dprinting 105khdk](https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/105khdk/) (reddit)
- [Community source, r/ender3 12273n7](https://www.reddit.com/r/ender3/comments/12273n7/) (reddit)
- [Community source, r/3Dprinting 15hyksn](https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/15hyksn/) (reddit)

HTML: https://filamentfacts.com/answers/recycling