Note:
These recommendations are valid under the assumption that packaging materials are free of resin and nylon powder.
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Disposing of Formlabs packaging
Disposing of Formlabs packaging
This article provides guidance on how to responsibly dispose of packaging materials for Formlabs consumables.
Definitions
Household waste
Household waste is waste that is not recyclable, compostable, biodegradable, or hazardous.
Notice:
- Do not pour liquid or partially cured resin into drains or dispose of it with household waste.
- Do not pour solvent (IPA, TPM) that contains dissolved resin into drains or dispose of it with household waste. Safe and appropriate disposal methods of used solvent vary by location.
- For disposal purposes, vacuum bags and filters used to clean unsintered powder should be considered unsintered powder waste.
Stickers and tape
The recyclability of materials is not affected by the presence of stickers or tape. Stickers are burned off of plastics and become caught in pulp straining films during cardboard recycling.
Expanded polystyrene (EPS)
There may be a dedicated expanded polystyrene (EPS) recycler in your region, but otherwise this material is non-recyclable by most community recycling centers unless otherwise specified.
Resin cartridge packaging (Form 4 and Form 4L)
Cardboard box
- Material: Recycled cardboard
- Recommendation: Recyclable, curbside collection
Clear plastic cartridge bag
- Material: Polypropylene (PP)
- Recommendation: Recyclable, curbside collection
- Material: Blow molded polyethylene, silicone rubber, polypropylene, and polyethylene foam
- Recommendation: Refer to the support article Disposing of resin cartridges for guidance on cartridge disposal. The intricate internal geometry of Formlabs cartridges necessitates specific disposal measures.
Resin cartridge packaging (Form 2, Form 3, and Form 3L)
- Material: Corrugated cardboard
- Recommendation: Recyclable, curbside collection
- Material: 100% virgin polyethylene (PE) film
- Recommendation: Recyclable at some facilities
- Material: High-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP)
- Recommendation: Refer to the support article Disposing of resin cartridges for guidance on cartridge disposal. The intricate internal geometry of Formlabs cartridges necessitates specific disposal measures.
- Material: Polyethylene (PE) foam
- Recommendation: Household waste
- Material: Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
- Recommendation: Recyclable, curbside collection if free of resin
- If coated with resin, cure resin with UV light (365 nm and 395 nm) or sunlight and dispose of it as household waste.
Cartridge packaging for Formlabs resins for biocompatible applications
- Material: Matte coated art paper
- Recommendation: Recyclable, curbside collection
Form 4 generation resin tank packaging
- Material: Cardboard
- Recommendation: Recyclable, curbside collection
- Material: Polypropylene (PP)
- Recommendation: Recyclable, curbside collection if free of resin
- If coated with resin, cure resin with UV light (365 nm and 395 nm) or sunlight and dispose of it as household waste.
- Material: Polypropylene (PP)
- Recommendation: Recyclable, curbside collection if free of resin
- If coated with resin, cure resin with UV light (365 nm and 395 nm) or sunlight and dispose of it as household waste.
- Material: Polyamide, polypropylene, stainless steel, carbon steel, and aluminum
- Recommendation: Recyclable, curbside collection if free of resin
- If coated with resin, cure resin with UV light (365 nm and 395 nm) or sunlight and dispose of it as household waste.
- Material: Cardboard
- Recommendation: Recyclable, curbside collection
Form 4L generation resin tank packaging
- Material: Cardboard
- Recommendation: Recyclable, curbside collection
- Material: Polypropylene (PP)
- Recommendation: Recyclable, curbside collection if free of resin
- If coated with resin, cure resin with UV light (365 nm and 395 nm) or sunlight and dispose of it as household waste.
- Material: Polypropylene (PP)
- Recommendation: Recyclable, curbside collection if free of resin
- If coated with resin, cure resin with UV light (365 nm and 395 nm) or sunlight and dispose of it as household waste.
- Material: A Form 4L mixer, made of polyamide, polypropylene, stainless steel, carbon steel, and aluminum
- Recommendation: Recyclable, curbside collection if free of resin
- If coated with resin, cure resin with UV light (365 nm and 395 nm) or sunlight and dispose of it as household waste.
- Material: Cardboard
- Recommendation: Recyclable, curbside collection
Form 3/Form 3B resin tank packaging
- Material: Cardboard, 3 mm
- Recommendation: Recyclable, curbside collection
- Material: Cardboard, 3 mm, with PET window
- Recommendation: Recyclable, curbside collection
- Material: Polyethylene film
- Recommendation: Recyclable at some facilities
- Material: Polyurethane (PU) foam
- Recommendation: Household waste
- Material: Polyurethane foam
- Recommendation: Household waste
- Material: Polypropylene (PP)
- Recommendation: Recyclable, curbside collection if free of resin
- If coated with resin, cure resin with UV light (365 nm and 395 nm) or sunlight and dispose of it as household waste.
Tip:
Save the tank case and tank case lid to store your resin tanks between prints.
- Material: Polypropylene (PP)
- Recommendation: Recyclable, curbside collection if free of resin
- If coated with resin, cure resin with UV light (365 nm and 395 nm) or sunlight and dispose of it as household waste.
Tip:
For newer resin tanks, the shipping box also acts as the tank case. Save the box and included tray to store your resin tanks between prints.
- Material: Plastic
- Recommendation: Household waste
- If coated with resin, cure resin with UV light (365 nm and 395 nm) or sunlight before disposal.
Tip:
Save the tank case and tank case lid to store your resin tanks between prints.
Mixer retention block
- Material: Expanded polyethylene (EPE) foam, corrugated cardboard
- Recommendation: Household waste (USA) or recyclable, curbside collection (other countries, depending on local regulations)
Form 3L/Form 3BL resin tank packaging
- Material: Cardboard, 3 mm
- Recommendation: Recyclable, curbside collection
- Material: Double gray cardboard and glossy coated art paper
- Recommendation: Household waste
Tip:
Save the tank case and tank case tray to store your resin tanks between prints.
- Material: Polypropylene (PP)
- Recommendation: Recyclable, curbside collection if free of resin
- If coated with resin, cure resin with UV light (365 nm and 395 nm) or sunlight and dispose of it as household waste.
Tip:
Save the tank case and tank case tray to store your resin tanks between prints.
- Material: Polyethylene film and ethylene vinyl acetate film
- Recommendation: Household waste
- Material: Expanded polyethylene (EPE) foam
- Recommendation: Household waste (USA) or recyclable, curbside collection (other countries, depending on local regulations)
Note:
The EPE foam and corrugated cardboard are adhered to one another and are hard to separate.
Tank case inner padding
- Material: Expanded polyethylene (EPE) foam
- Recommendation: Household waste (USA) or recyclable, curbside collection (other countries, depending on local regulations)
Fuse 1 powder packaging
- Material: Corrugated cardboard
- Recommendation: Recyclable, curbside collection
- Material: Matte art paper and polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
- Recommendation:
- Backing: Recyclable, curbside collection
- Card: Household waste
- Material: High-density polyethylene (HDPE)
- Recommendation: Retain for later powder storage. High-density polyethylene is recyclable but this item should be treated as contaminated with/containing powder. Refer to the support article Powder care, storage, and disposal for guidance on HDPE disposal.
- Material: Aluminum-lined plastic
- Recommendation: Powder bags are not recyclable and should be treated as contaminated with or containing powder. For guidance on powder container disposal, refer to the support article Powder care, storage, and disposal.
Form 4 generation build platform packaging
- Material: Cardboard
- Recommendation: Recyclable, curbside collection
- Material: Expanded polyethylene (EPE) foam
- Recommendation: Household waste (USA) or recyclable, curbside collection (other countries, depending on local regulations)
- Material: Paper
- Recommendation: Recyclable, curbside collection
Form 4L generation build platform packaging
- Material: Cardboard
- Recommendation: Recyclable, curbside collection
- Material: Expanded polyethylene (EPE) foam
- Recommendation: Household waste (USA) or recyclable, curbside collection (other countries, depending on local regulations)
- Material: Paper
- Recommendation: Recyclable, curbside collection
Form 2 and Form 3/Form 3B build platform packaging
- Material: Corrugated cardboard
- Recommendation: Recyclable, curbside collection
Form 3L/Form 3BL build platform packaging
- Material: Corrugated cardboard
- Recommendation: Recyclable, curbside collection
- Material: Expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam
- Recommendation: Household waste (USA) or recyclable, curbside collection (other countries, depending on local regulations)