This Facebook post got me thinking there ought to be a way for people to convert their plastic containers to 3D printer filament. I did a bit of research since I couldn’t be the first to think of this. Here is what I found.

There are machines specifically designed to convert plastic containers—most commonly PET bottles—into 3D printer filament.

Some notable examples:

Filabot: A commercial solution that allows users to recycle various types of waste plastic, including failed 3D prints and some household plastics, into printer filament. It offers grinders and extruders for producing filament compatible with common 3D printers.

Filament Maker by Sustainable Design Studio: This machine is designed for home users, workshops, or schools. It includes a bottle cutting tool and can create filament from PET bottles efficiently, with detailed guides and plug-and-play assembly options.

PETFusion Machine: A compact, easy-to-use device (featured on Kickstarter) converts PET plastic bottles into 1.75mm filament for 3D printing. It automates bottle preparation, extrusion, and spool winding—making it accessible for hobbyists and professionals alike.

Polyformer: An open-source project that converts plastic bottles into 3D printer filament using a custom bottle cutter and extruder. It has been implemented globally, is financially accessible, and helps mitigate plastic waste by providing affordable filament.

3devo Filament Maker and Shredder: This professional-grade solution allows the creation of filament from shredded plastic waste, suitable for R&D, education, and custom filament engineering. It offers a full recycling workflow—from shredding to spooling—making it ideal for advanced users.

There are also DIY options and guides (e.g., on Instructables) for building your own system to turn PET bottles into filament using common 3D printer parts, a cutter, and a modified hotend.

Limitations: Most of these machines are optimized for PET bottles, not all types of plastic containers. The filament produced may not match the quality of commercial filament and may require tuning your 3D printer’s settings. Print quality can vary with homemade or recycled filament, but for prototyping and sustainable manufacturing, these solutions are effective.

For home use, open-source or kit options like Polyformer or PETFusion are popular and cost-effective, while professional setups (Filabot, 3devo) are preferred for larger-scale or precise needs.