Utilization of Waste Plastic and Waste Glass Together as Fine and Coarse Aggregate in Concrete

Abstract

Concrete is one of the common materials for producing different construction-related structures around the world, mainly due to its low cost, availability, long period of durability, and ability to withstand very bad weather conditions. Glass and plastics have become an inseparable and integral part of our lives. The amount of glass and plastics consumed annually has been growing steadily. Its low density, strength, user-friendly designs, fabrication capabilities, long life, lightweight, and low cost are the factors behind such phenomenal growth. Glass and plastic are found in municipal solid waste (MSW), and they are of the most used daily materials; they can be used as a construction material in buildings or primarily in the form of containers, etc. This paper focuses on replacing some fine and coarse aggregates in concrete with waste plastic and waste glass. To evaluate the effects of including these wastes, mechanical tests like compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and flexural tests conducted on samples prepared with four different percentages of fine and coarse aggregate replaced with fine and coarse plastic and glass waste together. From the results obtained, it was seen that waste plastic and waste glass together reduces compressive strength, flexural strength, and density, while in some proportions of replacement increased splitting tensile strength and water absorption percentage; however, the results are in a manner that even though the concrete produced with such aggregates can be used for structural applications.