Recycl3d

About the project

I was engaged in this project full-time in the year between my bachelor’s and my master’s. Together with a project colleague, I was responsible for designing and developing an installation for Schiphol’s departure halls. The aim of the project was to make travelers aware of waste separation and recycling.

Recycl3D was placed in the departure halls of Schiphol for over a year. Schiphol used the project to promote the day of sustainability in a movie on there social media. You can find this movie below.

About the concept

We analysed the waste that flows around the airport and found out that it contains a lot of plastic bottels. This product became the iconic subject of our project. After creating several concepts, we decided to develop an installation that explains the process of recycling PET bottles, and shows the production of a new product made of recycled PET.

The triangle shape of the installation represents the well-known recycle logo. The center of the installation showcases a 3D-printer which is printing with recycled PET filament. Illustrations at the sides of the installation show the process plastic bottles go through when they get recycled. The holes at the corners of the installation function as garbage cans in which travelers can throw away their plastic bottles. When they do this, the lights of the installation turn green and a cheering sound plays.

My contribution

Within the project, I took the role to design the shape and interaction of the installation, while my fellow intern focused on making the 3D printer function well and printed parts for the installation.

I created a 3D model of the design and prepared drawings to make it possible for a steel processing company to create the framework. I also created drawings for the plastic bell jar which protects the 3D printer and was in contact with a plastic processing company that produced it. Furthermore, I designed the interaction of the installation and together with my colleague I programmed and created the electronics by making use of Arduino.