Georgia Tech researchers are finding a new way to give plastic waste a second life, turning hard-to-recycle plastic into new materials and products. Inside Georgia Tech’s new Trash Lab, students, researchers and faculty are getting hands-on experience with upcycling, recycling and sustainable manufacturing.
At the center of the lab is a compact machine called the miniTrashpresso. It can take used plastic and other waste materials, process them on-site, and turn them into new products in less than five minutes. Georgia Tech says it is the first university in North America to operate a miniTrashpresso machine.
The process starts with everyday plastic waste, including things like takeout containers, cups and other packaging. The plastic is shredded, heated, and compressed using specialized equipment and molds. And what was once trash can become something people can actually use.