ECO-FRIENDLY BRICKS FROM PLASTIC WASTE: A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION FOR CONSTRUCTION AND WASTE MANAGEMENT

Abstract

The continuous accumulation of plastic waste requires performance-based eco-friendly recycling solutions to manage environmental challenges. The research investigates the practicality of creating environmentally friendly bricks through substituting various plastic waste kinds which include Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and Polypropylene (PP) at substitute proportions (5–20%) with sand. Researchers assessed the plastic waste bricks for compressive strength measurements as well as water absorption rates and acid resistance and efflorescence phenomena and thermal characteristics and total costs. Bricks made with 5% plastic waste as a replacement produced optimal results that increased compressive strength by 7.8% (1,859.44 pounds per square inch at 28 days) while decreasing water absorption to 6.95% compared to regular bricks. The entire plastic brick sample group demonstrated no efflorescence as well as better thermal insulation qualities. The addition of excessive plastic content (≥10%) in the mixture caused the bricks to become weak with increased water uptake. The thermal stability diminished when the amount of plastic used in the mixture was raised according to thermogravimetric results. The increase in price of plastic bricks remains reasonable as they absorb no carbon from kiln-burning processes and thus offer a green solution. The research shows that plastic waste bricks with 5% plastic have potential as sustainable and workable building materials while more study is essential for cost reduction and wider implementation.