As 3D printing grows, so does need to reclaim plastic waste

UC Berkeley is a leader in 3D printing. From creating a prosthetic hand for an 8-year-old girl to a “smart cap” that senses spoiled food to large-scale cement buildings, engineers and designers on campus are pushing the technology to the limits, using it in ways never seen before.

The technology got its start on campus about a decade ago and continues to grow. With this surge in popularity has come a surge in plastic waste. Now, with more than 100 printers on campus, at least 600 pounds of trash is generated each year.

But Nicole Panditi, a mechanical engineering student, and Scott Silva, and environmental sciences student, have a solution.  Read more.