discussion Recycling plastic sprue

[Guest]

The cardboard box and paper instructions can be recycled, and even the plastic bag can be recycled at some places, do you think it'd be a good idea if manufacturers could take waste sprue/parts back or even unwanted models for recycling into new products? I know my local recycling site only take plastic bottles, so anything that isnt a plastic bottle will probably be sorted and dumped in landfill anyway. Even if theres no difference in kit costs at least its not going into a landfill. What do you think?

 

[Ian M]

I recycle mine already. Long strings get cut out of the frame and used as paint sticks, ie, I stick things on them with CA to paint them. Some get flattened in the ends, heat up and squeeze with pliers to stir paint with. The rest gets used in large gaps as filler.

Ian M

 

[John]

I recycle mine already. Long strings get cut out of the frame and used as paint sticks, ie, I stick things on them with CA to paint them. Some get flattened in the ends, heat up and squeeze with pliers to stir paint with. The rest gets used in large gaps as filler.Ian M

Wow so many uses, it's not something I would have thought about recycling but I will now.

 

[geegad]

I use the boxes from my models to make new boxes to put my completed models up the loft. I also use the plastic bags cut them into small squares so I can put a drop of super glue on and use a cocktail stick for small glue application then just throw away the small square when done

 

[stona]

I always stick old sprues in the re-cycling and they've always taken it. I don't see why polystyrene can't be easily recycled.

Ian has given some good uses for sprue too. I never thought of a stirrer!

Cheers

Steve

 

[AlanG]

Old sprue makes a good handle for sticking sandpaper too for a sanding stick. I like above, use spue for stiring paint

 

[colin m]

Yes, mine goes into the recycling, what happens after that though ??

 

[Guest]

I use my old sprue for aerial's or cut it into small bits to be desolved in liquid poly to make a cheap filler. Never though about using them as paint stirrers or sanding sticks....

 

[Guest]

Recycling of plastic is better idea than refilling the land. Because plastic can't be differentiate naturally. So people should aware about drawbacks of plastic use. Now a days there many organization offering plastic or waste recycling programs.

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Styrofoam recycling

 

[Guest]

I try and recycle everything I use. I hate the waste that's created and the landfills filled by it.

 

[Ian M]

The question is how interested a manufacturer such as Airfix (I pick them as a British firm and Britain having a healthy head of modellers), be in starting a recycle system.

Buy a kit in a shop and return your empty sprues back at the same time. Once the shop has bin full (would be great if they had a chipper) the plastic was sent back for reuse.

It could even go to keeping the cost down.

Has anyone considered weighing the plastic before a build and again after the build to see what is left over weight wise?

Ian M

 

[Dave W]

Ive been cutting up sprue for years and using it to stir paint.I cut the cardboard boxes the models come in into 4 inch(ish) squares and put the sprue on it after stiring paint.I then use the paint on the card for brush painting details.That way i dont waste all the paint left on the stirer.They also come in handy as glue pallets when im using superglue gel.

 

[Ian M]

We have rubbish sorting here so all the boxes get nested and then go to the recycling centre.

Ian M

 

[Guest]

I also cut the longer bits of sprue and make sanding sticks, heat them up and stretch them out to make aerial's, stirrers sticks, the bits left over i cut up into really small bits and use as rubble and stuff, have a box that i fill up with all the bits, i have not thrown a sprue away for at least 10 years now, i spend an evening about once an month or so and just make stuff out of the sprue and top my bit boxes up

 

[Guest]

I love the sanding stick idea.

Keith

 

[Guest]

Paint stirrers! Great idea, I'll definitely be trying some of these ideas out!