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Performance evaluation of PET-modified concrete with PET granules and manufactured sand as fine aggregates
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Researchers found that mixing shredded plastic bottles into concrete, replacing some sand, actually made it stronger when used at the right amount (2%). This matters because it gives plastic waste a useful second life instead of it sitting in landfills or being burned, which releases toxic fumes harmful to human health.
Food and beverage packaging frequently uses polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and most of these products wind up in landfills. The primary problem with plastic waste is that it can harm the environment and is not biodegradable. Toxic gasses like dioxins, which can be detrimental to human health, can be released during incineration as a treatment approach. Recycling PET and using it in the building sector is one possible way to address this issue. The building industry is in dire need of inexpensive materials that strengthen concrete structures. This experiment aims to determine whether waste PET bottles may be used to partially substitute fine aggregate in concrete, hence reducing the concrete’s self-weight. A control mix was prepared and compared to concrete that contained 1%, 2%, and 3% PET bottle particles as fine aggregate. After seven and twenty-eight days, the cube, cylinder, and beam specimens were cast, cured, and their strength was assessed. Test findings for flexural strength, split tensile strength, and compression were contrasted with control samples. Compression, split tensile, and flexural strength increased by 2% of PET granules. The increasing need for fine aggregate can be satisfied by using PET bottle granule substitutes. The quantity of river sand needed for concrete is decreased when PET fine aggregates and manufactured sand (M-sand) are used in place of traditional river sand and plastic granules have also been shown to be more economical.
More Papers Like This
Mechanical Characteristics of Concrete with Partial Replacement of Sand by Waste PET Bottle Fibers
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Researchers found that mixing small amounts of shredded plastic water bottles (2-2.5%) into concrete actually made it stronger, offering a clever way to reuse plastic waste instead of sending it to landfills. While this isn't directly about human health, it matters because it could reduce plastic pollution buildup in our environment—one path toward tackling the growing problem of plastic waste that eventually breaks down into microplastics found in our water, food, and even our bodies.
Use of Plastic Waste in Concrete : A Comprehensive Review on Strength of Concrete Mixture with Different Material
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This review paper looks at how recycled plastic waste (like PET bottles) can be mixed into concrete for building construction, finding that the right amount can actually improve certain properties while reducing landfill waste. This matters because it offers a practical way to reuse plastic that would otherwise pollute the environment—though the paper focuses on construction benefits rather than directly studying whether this affects microplastic exposure or human health, so more research would be needed to confirm concrete made this way doesn't shed plastic particles over time.
Synergistic impact of recycled PET microparticles on the mechanical performance of high-strength and conventional concretes
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This paper isn't about human health directly—it's about turning recycled plastic bottles (PET) into an ingredient for concrete instead of sending them to landfills. Researchers found that replacing more than 5% of the sand in concrete with crushed plastic makes the concrete noticeably weaker, so they recommend keeping plastic content low and reserving this approach for non-load-bearing uses like sidewalks or decorative structures rather than buildings or bridges.
Enhancing impact resistance of self-compacting concrete using recycled PET fibers and metallized plastic fibers: an integrated experimental and analytical investigation
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Researchers found that mixing recycled plastic bottle waste and metallized plastic scraps into concrete makes it much better at absorbing impacts without cracking, up to 486 hits versus far fewer for regular concrete. This means construction waste plastic could be reused in buildings and roads, cutting landfill waste while making structures safer and more durable.
Impact of using recycled plastic particles as a partial replacement of aggregates on the mechanical performance of the eco-friendly concrete
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Researchers found that mixing small amounts of recycled plastic waste into concrete (replacing sand or gravel) can create lighter, still-usable building material, best suited for things like sidewalks and paving blocks rather than load-bearing structures. This matters because it offers a practical way to reuse plastic waste instead of sending it to landfills or letting it break down into microplastics that pollute soil, water, and eventually our food and bodies. However, this is a construction materials study, not a health study, so it doesn't directly test whether the concrete itself sheds microplastics over time.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.