Paver blocks made of Recycled plastic-bonded sand

Abstract

Most of the developing nations lack a proper solid waste management system owing to the difficulties faced during the sample collection and treatment phases. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) contribute as a major source of such pollution due to the widespread use of its products which include water sachets, thin bags, wrapping paper etc. Improper disposal of this waste in the form of landfilling can not only cause environmental impact but also negatively harm the surrounding soil and water bodies. A relatively simple technology has been proposed in this paper that produces LDPE-bonded sand blocks and pavers. Developing countries (DCs) typically have inadequate solid waste management, with low waste collection rates, disposal primarily by dumping and limited outlets for reusing potentially recyclable materials. It was observed that LDPE-bonded sand is a strong, tough material with compressive strengths up to 17 MPa when produced under optimum processing conditions. The density and compressive strength were found to be increased as the particle size of the sand was decreased. The samples also exhibited far superior impact resistance as compared to traditional clay paver blocks.