The alternative plastic recycling system run by (brilliant) people around the planet.
"In the process of setting up your own Precious Plastic Workspace, you'll learn everything you need to know about plastic, how to find a space, get the machines and connect to the Precious Plastic Universe." - Precious Plastic Melbourne
It should take you 4-6 weeks to get your Precious Plastic Workspace up and running. Thereafter the time commitment is up to you and what you have capacity and interest for. It will depend on the routine processes you've decided on, how much plastic you're aiming to recycle, and what products you'll be creating with your recycled plastic.
First things first, if you've been successful in accessing ChangeX funding to start your own Precious Plastic Workspace, we will connect you with the local team who will support you and guide you through the process from start to end. The first step will be ensuring you have an introductory call with them scheduled, to get things kicked off.
While you wait for your call, there is lots to learn and start thinking about. The below steps provide that information and give you an overview of what the overall process will entail.
Learn, Immerse, Imagine
Before you get your head down into the details of setting up your Precious Plastic Workspace, there is lots to learn. Immerse yourself in the Precious Plastic Universe. Uncover what's out there, and in the process, start imagining what your own Precious Plastic Workspace could look like.
Learn about Precious Plastic
As a start, it’s super important to really know and understand Precious Plastic. What drives the project, how it works, its philosophy and solutions. If you haven’t already, dig around our website, community platform and Bazar to have a deep understanding of the project. Also, make sure to check the Universe chapter to fully understand how the Precious Plastic Universe works:
👉 community.preciousplastic.com
👉 community.preciousplastic.com/academy/universe/universe
Workspaces role in the Precious Plastic universe
While there are many different concepts that one can start through Precious Plastic resources, the ChangeX funding is specifically to start 'Workspaces'. Mix Workspaces are a great place to start taking the first steps into local plastic recycling. Because of this, make sure you have a look at what exactly a Precious Plastic workspace is:
👉 preciousplastic.com/starterkits/showcase/mix
The basics of plastic
Before you start it is crucial to get a solid understanding of plastic. How it works, the different types, melting temperatures and so on. Head over to the Academy and dive into the plastic chapters to learn about the different types and properties etc. There is also more about the machines, products and techniques, and more. Make sure to absorb as much knowledge from there as possible.
👉 community.preciousplastic.com/academy/plastic/basics
A special reminder: the local team you'll be connected to, will also go through all the necessary information with you, to ensure you're equipped. So don't worry if you're feeling confused or have questions. Your local team is there to solve all of that!
Source, Secure, Setup
Now that you've got your bearings, it's time to start getting the building blocks of your own Precious Plastic Workspace together.
Assemble a team
It’s good to work and learn in a team. Put together a passionate team of people able to collaborate and work together to learn different ways to tackle the plastic problem.
Find a space
To help you find and set up the space for your workspace, you can use the floorplan in the Download Kit. It includes all the minimum requirements and a little template to place your machines and tools in the workspace.
Get your machines
Cool, now that you have a space it’s time to get hold of your machines. Your local support team will link you to the verified machine partner that is fitting for your context and needs. With your ChangeX funding, it is mandatory that you secure your machinery through the Precious Plastic Melbourne team.
Build your workspace
Super, you’ve got your machines! But machines alone are not enough. Follow our tutorials on how to fully setup your Mix Workspace with all the additional tools, furniture and posters needed to make your space ready.
Since your machinery will come directly from Precious Plastic Melbourne, you will also be provided with a "Precious Plastic Melbourne How-to", giving you very detailed information about the machinery that you've purchased.
Safety
Operating machinery can pose a number of safety risks, so PPE is strongly recommended:
A special reminder: the local team you'll be connected to, will also go through all the necessary information with you, to ensure you're equipped. So don't worry if you're feeling confused or have questions. Your local team is there to solve all of that!
Collecting & Cleaning
It's time to source some plastic waste to be recycled.
Get some plastic waste
You can make contact with a Collection Point near you or find clever ways to get people to bring you plastic. This is a great community outreach initiative!
Shredding, Moulding, Creating
Shred your plastic
Using your Shredder, shred the collected plastic waste into small shreds ready to be used in the other machines. Make sure to shred plastic by type and, as a plus, by colour, so you can create beautiful patterns later on.
Get moulds
To make products you need moulds. Moulds can be done in multiple ways.
You can have a look at the Create section in the Academy:
👉 community.preciousplastic.com/academy/create
And check out the How-to's to get inspired and learn about different moulds:
👉 community.preciousplastic.com/how-to
Your local support team will also be able to connect you to available moulds suitable for your needs.
Make some products!
Now that you have all the things in place it’s time to start making some products with the different machines. Browse the How-to and Create chapter in the Academy to learn how to make different products and adopt the best practices.
Experiment and have fun
Make sure to play around and have some fun trying out new things, moulds, patterns and designs. Learning is about playing and experimenting. If you discover something cool, share it back to the community, so everyone can learn together.
A special reminder: the local team you'll be connected to, will also go through all the necessary information with you, to ensure you're equipped. So don't worry if you're feeling confused or have questions. Your local team is there to solve all of that!
Community Connection
The success of Precious Plastic initiatives is built on a global army of everyday people staying connected and supporting one another. There are a number of ways to ensure you don't feel alone in your endeavour!
Get on Discord
Day to day discussions in the Precious Plastic Universe happen on Discord. Introduce yourself, say hi in your country channel and start to discover the different channels where people go deep into specific topics (building, collection, design etc..) Join the Discord:
👉 discordapp.com/invite/rnx7m4t
You can also visit the community platform for any questions:
👉 https://community.preciousplastic.com/
Check out your area
Get an overview of who and what is already existing in your area. Have a look on the Precious Plastic Map to see the activity around you. You can also search for more people on the Precious Plastic Bazar or search for #preciousplastic on social media.
A special reminder: the local team you'll be connected to, will also go through all the necessary information with you, to ensure you're equipped. So don't worry if you're feeling confused or have questions. Your local team is there to solve all of that!
