FAQ
3D print waste recycling questions
How Spoolback's pickup works, what goes in the bins and how the plans work. Can't find your answer? Email info@spoolback.ca.
The service
- Where do you pick up?
- Across the Greater Toronto Area: the City of Toronto and Peel, York, Durham and Halton regions. That includes Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Oakville, Burlington, Milton, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby and Oshawa.
- Who is Spoolback for?
- 3D print shops, print farms, makerspaces, schools, colleges and libraries that print with PLA or PETG and want their scrap recycled instead of thrown out.
- What can go in the bins?
- PLA and PETG, each in its own bin: failed prints, supports, brims, rafts, purge and leftover filament ends.
- What has to stay out?
- Resin prints, parts with metal inserts or magnets, and other plastics such as ABS, ASA or TPU. We can't recycle these yet, so please check your municipality's waste guide for how to get rid of them.
- Why do PLA and PETG need separate bins?
- They melt at different temperatures and don't blend into a filament that prints well. A bin with both mixed together can't be turned into either one, so keeping them apart is what makes the plastic recyclable.
- Can 3D prints go in the blue bin?
- Usually not. GTA blue bin programs are set up for packaging, and 3D prints aren't packaging. PLA is also not accepted in green bins, because it doesn't break down in municipal composting. Check your municipality's waste guide to be sure.
- What happens to the plastic you collect?
- We shred it, dry it and extrude it into new filament, blending in fresh pellets so it prints reliably. Each customer also gets a yearly report of how much plastic they kept out of landfill.
- How do I get started?
- Sign up online in about 3 minutes and choose a plan. We'll then arrange a time to drop off your labelled bins. Nothing starts until you've confirmed.
Plans and bins
- How much does a bin hold?
- About 8 kg of scrap. It depends on the size of the pieces: large failed prints leave more air between them than supports, brims and purge do, so a bin of big parts fills up sooner.
- Which plan should I choose?
- Choose by how long it takes you to make about 8 kg of scrap, one full bin. Two weeks or less: every 2 weeks. About a month: monthly. Longer than that: when the bin is full. Busy print farms usually fill a bin every couple of weeks; smaller shops and schools often take a month or more. Not sure? Email info@spoolback.ca and we'll help you pick.
- How does “When the bin is full” work?
- Email info@spoolback.ca when your bin is full and we'll collect it within 5 business days. You pay $30 per pickup and nothing in between. Pickups are at least 5 weeks apart.
- What if I fill a bin faster than that?
- Then the monthly or every-2-weeks plan is the better fit, so your bins never overflow between pickups. If you fill a bin in less than two weeks, email us and we'll work out a schedule with you.
- Can I cancel or change my plan?
- Yes. Plans are month to month, with no contract. Email info@spoolback.ca to cancel or switch plans at any time.
- Do I get the recycled filament back?
- No. Plans cover pickup and recycling. The filament made from your scrap isn't sent back to customers.
- How does the Winter offer work?
- New sign-ups get their first 5 pickups free while spots last, until December 31, 2026. During those 5 pickups we collect every 4 weeks, and each pickup needs at least 5 kg of scrap, PLA and PETG combined (about two full grocery bags). If there's less than 5 kg on the day, we skip that visit without using up one of your free pickups, or collect it for the regular $30. After that, the plan you chose starts and you can pick how often we come.
- How many spools does 1 kg of scrap make?
- About three-quarters of a standard 1 kg spool. Roughly 20 to 30% of the plastic is lost along the way: dust and fines from shredding, moisture driven off in drying, and the start-up and purge material every extrusion run produces. So 1 kg of failed prints, supports and purge gives about 0.7 to 0.8 kg of recycled filament, and 4 kg of scrap fills about 3 spools.
Ready for your first pickup?
Sign up in about 3 minutes, choose a plan, and we'll arrange your bins.