Mobile Recycling Facility – Expeditionary (MRF-X)

Plastics represent nearly 8% of the total waste generated at forward operating bases (FOB), most of which is burned in open pit fires, inflicting damage to the environment and creating personnel health issues. This proposal addresses the development of an Expeditionary Mobile Recycling Facility (MRF-X) that will provide the capability to recycle waste thermoplastics produced by FOBs into plastics pellets and filament that can be used to make plastic parts via conventional melt-processing techniques (e.g., extrusion, injection molding) or additive manufacturing technologies such as 3D printing. The MRF-X will sort, grind, and separate the plastic waste stream, wash and dry the regrind to remove residual contaminants, and convert the clean regrind into pellets and filament. The process design will leverage existing technology and processes that are routinely practiced at an industrial sale. However, the footprint will be small, the process will minimize energy consumption, and the operation will be automated to reduce implementation and use requirements in the field. The recycled products produced by the MRF-X will support the increased reliance of the DoD on additive manufacturing technologies to maintain military operational readiness and reduce warfighter exposure and supply chain logistics costs.