MANUFACTURING AND EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF PLASTIC–SAND BRICKS USING WASTE PLASTIC

This study manufactured plastic–sand bricks from waste plastic bottles and crushed sand at plastic-to-sand ratios of 1:3, 1:4 and 1:5 and compared their compressive strength and water absorption with conventional bricks. The main findings are summarized below. The 1:4 mix (20% plastic) performed best, with an average compressive strength of 12.28 N/mm² and a water absorption of 0.30%. The 1:3 mix reached 9.72 N/mm² and 0.37%, and it also exceeded the conventional brick (5.10 N/mm²) in strength. The 1:5 mix, at 3.39 N/mm², was weaker than the conventional brick, showing that an insufficient binder content reduces strength. All plastic–sand mixes absorbed about 88–90% less water than the conventional brick (3.00%), and the fitted trend curves point to an optimum plastic content of about 20–22% by weight, which remains to be confirmed experimentally. Waste plastic can therefore be a viable binder for plastic–sand bricks, offering a route to reuse plastic waste in paving and non-load-bearing products. The findings are limited to the measured properties and test conditions, and further evaluation against applicable standards is required before specific building applications are recommended.

[1]                S. L. Mak, T. M. Y. Wu, F. W. F. Tang, J. C. H. Li, and C. W. Lai, “A Review on Utilization of Plastic Wastes in Making Construction Bricks,” IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci., vol. 706, no. 1, Art. no. 012001, 2021. doi: 10.1088/1755-1315/706/1/012001. [2]                P. Lamba, D. P. Kaur, S. Raj, and J. Sorout, “Recycling/reuse of plastic waste as construction material for sustainable development: A review,” Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res., vol. 29, pp. 86156–86179, 2022. doi: 10.1007/s11356-021-16980-y. [3]                A. A. Rauniyar, R. K. Nakrani, S. R. Narpala, et al., “An Evaluation of the Use of Plastic Waste in the Manufacture of Plastic Bricks,” Discover Civil Eng., vol. 1, Art. no. 43, 2024. doi: 10.1007/s44290-024-00045-3. [4]                K. Yadav, A. Singh, O. N. Bhat, et al., “Transforming Waste into Innovation: A Review of Plastic Bricks as Sustainable Construction Materials,” Discover Civil Eng., vol. 1, Art. no. 38, 2024. doi: 10.1007/s44290-024-00040-8. [5]                S. Swinnerton, K. Kurtz, S. Neba Nforsoh, V. Craver, and C. Tsai, “The Manufacturing Process and Consequent Occupational Health and Environmental Risks Associated with the Use of Plastic Waste in Construction Bricks in Small-Scale Recycling Plants,” J. Cleaner Prod., vol. 477, Art. no. 143818, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.143818. [6]                G. Santos, E. Esmizadeh, and M. Riahinezhad, “Recycling Construction, Renovation, and Demolition Plastic Waste: Review of the Status Quo, Challenges and Opportunities,” J. Polym. Environ., vol. 32, pp. 479–509, 2024. doi: 10.1007/s10924-023-02982-z. [7]                E. Cirino, S. Curtis, J. Wallis, T. T. Thys, J. Brown, R. Rolsky, and M. Erdle, “Assessing Benefits and Risks of Incorporating Plastic Waste in Construction Materials,” Front. Built Environ., vol. 9, 2023. doi: 10.3389/fbuil.2023.1206474. [8]                V. Gupta and A. Sinha, “Application of Plastic Wastes as Construction Material for Sustainable Development: A Review,” World J. Adv. Eng. Technol. Sci., vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 302–307, 2023. doi: 10.30574/wjaets.2023.8.1.0059. [9]                “Recent Trends in Utilization of Plastics Waste Composites as Construction Materials,” Constr. Build. Mater., vol. 271, Art. no. 121520, 2021. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.121520. [10]             “Recycling Waste Thermoplastic for Energy Efficient Construction Materials: An Experimental Investigation,” J. Environ. Manage., vol. 240, pp. 119–125, 2019. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.03.016.