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An Experimental Study to Mitigate Environmental Impacts by Transforming Waste Plastic Bags into Paving Blocks and Roof Tiles

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  • Faizan Khalid Butt

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Mirpur University of Science and Technology, Mirpur 10250, Pakistan)

  • Donghui Shangguan

    (University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
    China-Pakistan Joint Research Center on Earth Sciences, CAS-HEC, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan)

  • Asim Qayyum Butt

    (University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
    China-Pakistan Joint Research Center on Earth Sciences, CAS-HEC, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan)

  • Muhammad Tausif Arshad

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Mirpur University of Science and Technology, Mirpur 10250, Pakistan)

  • Babar Nasim Khan Raja

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Mirpur University of Science and Technology, Mirpur 10250, Pakistan)

  • Anwar Khitab

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Mirpur University of Science and Technology, Mirpur 10250, Pakistan)

  • Yongjian Ding

    (University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
    China-Pakistan Joint Research Center on Earth Sciences, CAS-HEC, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan)

  • Da Li

    (University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
    China-Pakistan Joint Research Center on Earth Sciences, CAS-HEC, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan)

  • Muhammad Ahsan Mukhtar

    (University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
    China-Pakistan Joint Research Center on Earth Sciences, CAS-HEC, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan)

Abstract

The world’s plastic bag problem adversely impacts the environment daily. Plastic bags decompose after years, and some may take centuries, leading to pollution. Society relies on plastic bags for every task, which causes many problems for humans and aquatic life. Focusing on Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG 12), this research used waste plastic bags melted in a boilery to develop plastocrete to cast plastocrete paving blocks and roofing tiles. Compressive and split tensile strength tests were performed on plastocrete paving blocks, while a thermal insulation test was performed on roofing tiles in the Concrete Lab of our Department. The compressive strength test on plastocrete showed that it can easily replace concrete pavement blocks after giving good compressive strengths compared with concrete blocks. Being very low in tensile strength, plastocrete is not recommended for flexure members. The thermal insulation test results indicate that using plastic bags as roofing tiles decreases thermal conductivity compared with a controlled reinforced slab. Hence, it is concluded that plastocrete will help reduce pollution in the terrestrial and aquatic environment and can be an effective waste disposal solution. The plastocrete-led paving blocks and roofing tiles not only help economically but also help preserve nature and the environment from land pollution.

Suggested Citation

  • Faizan Khalid Butt & Donghui Shangguan & Asim Qayyum Butt & Muhammad Tausif Arshad & Babar Nasim Khan Raja & Anwar Khitab & Yongjian Ding & Da Li & Muhammad Ahsan Mukhtar, 2023. "An Experimental Study to Mitigate Environmental Impacts by Transforming Waste Plastic Bags into Paving Blocks and Roof Tiles," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-19, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:22:p:15801-:d:1277345
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Xu, Biwan & Li, Zongjin, 2014. "Performance of novel thermal energy storage engineered cementitious composites incorporating a paraffin/diatomite composite phase change material," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 114-122.
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