Thank you for the comment and support my friend!
The answer to your question is yes, actually it can be reused. However the process to re-manufacture it back into usable filament is not an easy one and requires some special machinery, because it has to maintain a perfect diameter throughout. So even a rudimentary process will not work very well. I saw some videos about it on Youtube a while back, because I was wondering the same thing. After seeing what it takes, I don't think I'll be re-manufacturing it any time soon.
There is almost no way to avoid this process, it's pretty standard for anyone who 3D prints because of the meticulous nature of 3D printing. There are many variables to consider which vary from print to print.
The positive aspect, is that PLA (Polylactic acid) is a biodegradable substance that is not harmful for the planet! So even throwing it in the garbage is not going to hurt mother nature, but it's not generally considered acceptable to do this because it takes a while to breakdown. Some recycling facilities will take the compound. It's a judgement call really.. With thin extrusions that are a single layer of 0.2 millimeter thickness (like a failed print in the beginning) I wouldn't get hung up on throwing it in the trash, because thin extrusions will break down much faster.
What I have been doing is just collecting all of my wasted filament in a big box, with hopes that one day I can figure out a way to reuse or recycle it properly. (or even ship it to a manufacturer who can if perhaps they want to send me a little filament in return and I'll take care of the shipping.. all kind of options to explore.)
Here's the Wikipedia on PLA if you're interested in reading more about this biodegradable compound:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polylactic_acid
In the first image, at a glance, I would have sworn the wine glass was clear, but it all looks pretty cool!
Kudos!
Thanks! It might be due to the high glossy shine of this stuff lol. They do make clear semi transparent filaments too that are a little tricky to work with but really cool nonetheless.
Thanks again for checking out my 3D printing content!