Can PLA Plastic Be Recycled? The Complete Guide

Can pla plastic be recycled? The short answer is yes – but it’s way more complicated than tossing it in your blue bin.

Voici ce qu'il en est :

PLA (Polylactic Acid) is technically recyclable, but most recycling centers won’t touch it. Why? Because it needs special processing that’s different from regular plastics.

Dans ce guide, en tant que professionnel Fabricant de moulage par injection de PLA, I’ll show you exactly how to recycle PLA plastic, what makes it so tricky, and the specific steps you can take to dispose of it properly.

Plongeons dans le vif du sujet.

What Is PLA Plastic?

Before we get into the recycling nitty-gritty, let’s cover what PLA actually is.

PLA is a bioplastic made from plant starches – usually corn, sugarcane, or cassava.

Here’s how it works:

Plant sugars get fermented into lactic acid
The lactic acid converts into monomers
These monomers polymerize into long chains
Boom – you’ve got PLA plastic

The crazy part?

Even though PLA comes from plants, the final product looks and feels just like petroleum-based plastic. You literally can’t tell the difference by looking at it.

The PLA Recycling Problem

Here’s where things get messy.

PLA falls under “Type 7” plastics in the recycling world. And Type 7 is basically the “miscellaneous” category that most recycling centers avoid like the plague.

Pourquoi ?

Three major reasons:

1. Lower Melting Point

PLA melts at around 60°C (140°F). That’s WAY lower than other plastics like PET or HDPE.

If PLA gets mixed with regular plastics during recycling, it acts like a contaminant. It’ll literally melt and gunk up the entire batch.

2. Limited Infrastructure

Most recycling facilities aren’t set up to handle PLA separately. And since PLA makes up a tiny fraction of plastic waste, they don’t see the point in investing in special equipment.

It’s a classic chicken-and-egg problem.

3. Sorting Nightmares

Remember when I said PLA looks exactly like regular plastic?

That’s a huge problem for recycling centers. They can’t easily tell PLA cups from regular plastic cups. So they’d need expensive sorting equipment or manual sorting – neither of which makes economic sense.

Types of PLA Recycling

Despite these challenges, there ARE ways to recycle PLA. Let me break down your options:

Mechanical Recycling

This is the most straightforward method:

Shred the PLA into small pieces
Wash to remove contaminants
Dry the material completely
Re-extrude into new filament or pellets

The good news? This process is energy-efficient and works great for clean PLA waste.

The bad news? Each recycling cycle degrades the material slightly. After 3-4 cycles, the PLA quality drops significantly.

Chemical Recycling

This method breaks PLA down to its molecular level using:

Hydrolysis (water + heat)
Methanolysis (methanol)
Glycolysis (ethylene glycol)

Chemical recycling produces higher-quality recycled material. But it requires more energy and specialized equipment.

Pro tip: Chemical recycling is usually only viable for large-scale operations. If you’re a hobbyist with a few failed 3D prints, this isn’t for you.

Industrial Composting

Voici une chose dont la plupart des gens ne se rendent pas compte :

PLA is compostable – but ONLY in industrial facilities.

These facilities maintain:

Temperatures above 55-70°C
High humidity levels
Specific microbial activity

Under these conditions, PLA breaks down in 2-3 months.

But here’s the kicker:

Throw PLA in your backyard compost? It’ll sit there for decades. Maybe centuries.

Practical PLA Recycling Solutions

So what can you actually DO with your PLA waste in 2025?

Here are your real-world options:

1. Find Specialized Recycling Services

Several companies now accept PLA for recycling:

Recycling Fabrik (Europe) – Accepts PLA and PETG, minimum 2kg for Germany
TerraCycle – Offers 3D printing material recycling programs
Local makerspaces – Many collect PLA scraps for bulk recycling

2. DIY Filament Recycling

If you generate lots of PLA waste, consider investing in:

A plastic shredder ($200-500)
A filament extruder ($500-2000)
A spooler (optional, $100-300)

Yes, it’s an investment. But if you’re running a 3D printing business or educational program, it pays for itself quickly.

3. Industrial Composting Drop-Off

Check if your area has industrial composting facilities that accept PLA. Some cities now have dedicated bins for compostable plastics.

Important: Only use this option if the facility explicitly accepts PLA. Otherwise, you’re just contaminating their compost.

4. Creative Reuse

Before recycling, consider:

Melting scraps into molds for new objects
Using failed prints for prototyping
Saving scraps for printer calibration tests

How to Minimize PLA Waste

The best recycling is not creating waste in the first place.

Here’s how to cut your PLA waste by 50% or more:

Optimize Your 3D Printing

Minimize supports: Use smart orientation and design to reduce support material. Some prints can save 30-40% material just by flipping them.

Nail the first layer: Most failed prints happen because of poor bed adhesion. Use proper bed leveling and adhesion methods to avoid waste.

Regular maintenance: A well-maintained printer has fewer failures. Period.

Smart Material Management

Use recycled filament for tests: Save virgin filament for final prints. Use recycled or old filament for:

Calibration tests
Rough prototypes
Fit checks

Buy from sustainable sources: Some companies now offer filament made from recycled PLA or use recyclable spools.

The Future of PLA Recycling

Things are improving rapidly.

In 2025, we’re seeing:

More industrial composting facilities accepting PLA
Better sorting technology at recycling centers
Growth in specialized PLA recycling services
Improved home recycling equipment

Several startups now offer mail-in recycling programs where you send PLA scraps and get credits toward new filament.

Local makerspaces increasingly have recycling stations with dedicated PLA bins.

Common PLA Recycling Mistakes

Avoid these rookie errors:

Mistake #1: Mixing PLA with regular recycling
This contaminates the entire batch. Never do this.

Mistake #2: Home composting PLA
Your backyard compost won’t get hot enough. PLA needs industrial conditions.

Mistake #3: Assuming all PLA is the same
Some PLA filaments have additives that make them non-compostable. Check with manufacturers.

Mistake #4: Not cleaning PLA before recycling
Contaminated PLA (with food residue, adhesives, etc.) can’t be properly recycled.

Bottom Line

Can pla plastic be recycled? Absolutely – but it requires the right approach and infrastructure.

Your best bets in 2025:

Find specialized recycling services in your area
Consider DIY recycling if you generate lots of waste
Use industrial composting where available
Focus on waste reduction first

The recycling landscape for PLA is evolving fast. What’s challenging today might be simple tomorrow.

But for now?

Be intentional about how you dispose of PLA. Don’t contaminate regular recycling. And whenever possible, reduce waste at the source.

Because at the end of the day, the most sustainable PLA is the PLA you never have to recycle in the first place.