Plastic Wastes, Glass Bottles, and Paper: Eco-Building Materials for Making Sand Bricks

Abstract

This study analyzed the possibility of utilizing plastic wastes, glass bottles, and shredded paper in making quality sand bricks since building materials are costly. For a lot of people, solid waste reduction has been a challenge. Utilizing solid wastes to make an eco-friendly and advantageous building material is one way to reduce solid wastes. The researcher endeavored to produce an eco-brick using sand ranging from fifty-five percent (55%) to sixty-five percent (65%) by weight, plastics ranging from twenty-nine percent (29%) to thirty-nine percent (39%) by weight, five percent (5%) crushed glass bottles, and one percent (1%) shredded paper. Various tests such as compression test, water absorption test, efflorescence test, and hardness test were carried out to assess the efficacy of brick specimens. The water absorption on the different brick specimens revealed that the absorption was less than twenty percent (20%) keeping it in good quality. As specified in IS 3495 (Part 2) 1992, bricks of good quality do not absorb more than twenty percent (20%) of water. The efflorescence test indicated that all specimens were classified “Slight” which conformed with ASTM C67. It showed that whitish layers were slightly visible nearly 10%. In addition, the compressive strength of the bricks surpassed the minimum requirement for non-load bearing wall of ASTM C129. Based on the impression made, all of the sand brick specimens were considered “Hard”. Thus, utilizing non-hazardous solid waste materials in making sand bricks could be a potential alternative as building material. It is also a workable initiative to combat issues on solid wastes.