Protection Of The Construction Environment In Cameroon Through Proper Use Of Plastic Bottles

A substantial growth in the consumption of plastic is observed all over the world in
recent years, which has led to huge quantities of plastic-related waste. Recycling of
plastic waste to produce new materials like concrete or mortar appears as one of the
best solution for disposing of plastic waste, due to its economic and ecological
advantages. Several works have been performed or are under way to evaluate the
properties of cement-composites containing various types of plastic waste as
aggregate, filler or fibre. This paper presents a review on the recycling plastic waste as
aggregate in cement mortar and concrete productions. For better presentation, the
paper is divided into four different sections along with introduction and conclusion
sections. In the first section, types of plastics and types of methods used to prepare
plastic aggregate as well as the methods of evaluation of various properties of
aggregate and concrete were briefly discussed. In the next two sections, the properties
of plastic aggregates and the various fresh and hardened concrete properties of cement
mortar and concrete in presence of plastic aggregate are discussed. The fourth section
focus on the practical implications of the use of plastic waste in concrete production
and future research needs. It is however recommended that bigger and denser plastic
pieces be added into the mixture rather than small flakey particles. This would help
increase the density of concrete made with plastic waste. Secondly, plastic waste
aggregates mixed with fiber should also be introduced into the mixture, to allow the
fibers to absorb the water in high plastic percentage mixes. Thirdly, few extra specimens
should be produced to be able to allow them to cure for a longer period of around 90
days. This will allow the hydration reaction to endure for a longer period, theoretically
increasing the compressive strength. Lastly, the experiment should be carried out with
extreme care of the specimens to avoid any damage to the cubes and cylinders, which
would allow more accurate results.