MIT spinout turns waste plastic into parts for buildings and bridges
On September 14, MIT reported on Atlas Building Composites, a spinout making building materials from waste plastic.
The process melts shredded plastic, combines it with fiberglass, and uses a large 3D printer to produce structural parts.
Its parts are used in sheds and docks, and were supplied for a bridge in a Massachusetts wetland. The technology is already being used in construction.
How could everyday life change?
The following is a possible future based on this news.
Local waste could become material for local buildings
If production can consistently meet the required standards, local factories could turn collected plastic into building parts close to where they are needed. Components could be made to order instead of shipped over long distances.
For example, a town could use its collected material to make replacement parts for a damaged park walkway. Waste collection and building repairs could support a shared network of local jobs.
