What happens when a piece of industrial equipment that has supported the city's recycling services for over 15 years reaches the end of its service life?
At MPL's Makerspace, we found a creative way to preserve its story by recreating it as a 3D-printed model.
With the transition of the Blue Box recycling program, the Styrofoam Densifier at 8100 Warden Avenue is nearing the end of its service life. To preserve its legacy, the City's Environmental Services team partnered with MPL's Makerspace to create a detailed model of this important piece of Markham's recycling history.
The project began with a visit to the facility, where we learned how the system works and documented its various components, including the grinder, conveyor, densifier, pipes, and silo. Using photographs, technical reference materials, and manufacturer files, we recreated each part as a digital 3D model before preparing them for printing.
From Digital Design to Physical Model
Creating the model involved much more than simply pressing "print."
Many components required several rounds of testing and adjustments before they fit together properly. Through a process of modelling, printing, revising, and reprinting, the project gradually came together piece by piece.
Led by MPL staff member Hydi Dou, the project took approximately two months to complete and involved extensive research, collaboration, and creative problem-solving.
More Than Just a 3D Print
The finished model is more than a miniature replica. It preserves an important part of Markham's recycling history and provides a hands-on way to understand how the system's components work together. The model will be displayed at 8100 Warden Avenue as a tribute to the densifier's role in the city's recycling program.
For the Makerspace, the project also demonstrates how our services can support innovative projects beyond traditional workshops. By combining digital design, 3D printing, and creativity, we were able to help transform a complex piece of equipment into an educational and lasting display.
This project highlights the power of collaboration, innovation, and creative problem-solving, showing how technology can help preserve and share an important part of Markham's history for future generations.
Watch the project come to life and see how a piece of Markham's recycling history was transformed into a 3D-printed model.
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