1. problem: plastic production has increased by 500% over the past 30 years and is projected to reach 850 million tons annually by 2050. despite this growth, only 9–10% of plastic waste is recycled globally. in india, the central pollution control board estimates that 25,940 tonnes of plastic waste are generated daily, with 80% of this waste failing to reach recycling facilities. much of this plastic waste becomes soiled or mixed with other materials, such as metals and dirt, making cleaning and segregation challenging. additionally, the low density of plastics and the associated transportation costs further increase the overall cost of recycling, often making it more expensive than producing virgin plastic. conventional recycling systems are centralized, expensive, and often inaccessible to smaller communities. as a result, 90% of plastic waste remains in the environment, causing clogged drains, animal ingestion, human health risks, and widespread pollution. this highlights an urgent need for sustainable, decentralized, and small-scale plastic waste recycling solutions. such solutions must be cost-effective compared to conventional recycling centers and capable of processing waste plastic directly at the point of origin before it becomes mixed with other materials, ensuring better efficiency and environmental impact. 2. decentralized recycling with 3d printing: a sustainable solution - recent advances in 3d printing technologies, combined with free, open-source cad software, have paved the way for a new plastic recycling paradigm. in this approach, plastic waste serves as a feedstock material for 3d printing, converting it into valuable products through a layer-by-layer deposition process. inspired by this concept of giving waste a second life, we developed an innovative filament-free 3d printing technology. 3. our innovation overview: our solution introduces an innovative filament-free material extrusion 3d printing technology that directly processes recycled plastic, eliminating the need for conventional filaments. a prototype 3d printer has been developed, integrating a shredder, extruder, and 3d printer into a single compact unit. the process starts with shredding waste plastic into small pieces, which are melted in a thermal screw unit and extruded through a nozzle. the molten material is then deposited layer by layer to create functional products, such as planters and automotive parts, enabling a waste-circular economy. by eliminating filament production—where costs are ₹1000–2000 per kg compared to ₹50–150 for waste plastic—our system reduces running costs by 90%. its modular design ensures affordability and accessibility for small enterprises, local recycling units, and communities. advanced features like automated nozzle clogging detection using long short-term memory (lstm) networks enhance system reliability. this innovation enables the production of diverse, frugal products from waste plastic, fostering localized recycling and reducing environmental impact. 4. key features: 4.1 decentralized recycling: enables local waste management and production, reducing transportation and logistics costs associated with centralized recycling. 4.2 filament-free technology: utilizes waste/recycled granules directly, reducing material costs by up to 90%. 4.3 sustainability and accessibility: simplified design ensures affordability for small businesses, local communities, and educational institutions. 4.4 circular economy impact: promotes waste-to-resource transformation, reducing environmental burden and fostering sustainable business ecosystems. 4.5 customization and versatility: supports the creation of a wide range of customized products to meet local needs. 5. conclusion this innovation supports the principles of gandhian engineering by offering a frugal yet impactful solution to plastic waste management. this project represents a paradigm shift in plastic waste recycling and additive manufacturing by combining sustainability and affordability. it empowers individuals and communities to participate in waste recycling, reducing pollution while creating value from discarded materials.