Every citizen of Amsterdam generates 23 kg of plastics waste each year. Under normal circumstances, this would kick off a dire description of today’s society, but not so at The New Raw. The research and design company took this number as an impetus to initiate the “Print Your City!” project in 2016 together with Aectual, the Technical University of Delft and AEB Amsterdam.

In essence, the project uses 3D printing and lots of plastics waste to create public furniture. The ultimate aim is to engage the public, strengthen local production and move towards a completely circular city. Print Your City! is intended as a call to citizens to participate in the design process of their urban environment and, of course, to recycle their plastics waste.

The "XXX" bench is the first piece to come out of this project. Interestingly, it was printed using the yearly plastics waste generated by two Amsterdam citizens – and it seats two Amsterdam citizens. While it's already possible to customise the furniture, it remains to be seen whether one day the entire process will be personalised – Hand in last year’s trash, and you’re guaranteed a place to sit in Amsterdam! Sitting on a mountain of trash with an air of proprietary smugness? That would be a first.

Watch The New Raw's video about 3D printing in a circular city.