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Recycle and reuse of plastic in the form of terrecota- jali
Summary
Researchers turned recycled plastic waste into decorative screens (called jalis) traditionally made from terracotta, mixing plastic with terracotta powder, ash, and sand to create a lighter, cheaper, more water-resistant building material. While this version isn't as strong as real terracotta, it offers a practical way to reuse plastic waste in construction instead of letting it pile up in landfills or break down into microplastics that can pollute soil, water, and eventually end up in our bodies. This kind of innovation matters because finding useful, long-lasting purposes for plastic waste is one way to reduce the amount of plastic p
Abstract:Plastic pollution poses one of the most significantenvironmental threats today, with millions of tons of wasteimpacting ecosystems and human health annually. Thispaper details an innovative approach to mitigate this issueby recycling and repurposing plastic waste, specificallyHigh-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), into terracotta-stylejali. Jalis, traditional Indian architectural screens known fortheir intricate designs and functional ventilation properties,are typically made from terracotta, which is heavy, fragile,and relatively costly. This research explores the creation ofa sustainable alternative by blending recycled HDPE withadditives like terracotta powder, fly ash, and fine sand tomimic the aesthetic and functional qualities of traditionaljalis. The study outlines the material selection, detailedproduction methodology including waste collection,cleaning, shredding, mixing, molding, and controlled heattreatment. It presents findings from physical andmechanical testing, specifically compressive strength andwater absorption tests, comparing the performance of therecycled plastic jali with conventional terracotta. Theresults indicate that while the compressive strength is lower than traditional terracotta, the recycled plastic jali offerssignificantly improved water resistance and potentialadvantages in terms of weight, cost-effectiveness, anddurability. This project highlights the potential oftransforming plastic waste into valuable, aestheticallypleasing architectural elements, contributing to sustainabledesign, green building practices, and the principles of acircular economy.