The Holistic Approach of Plastic Waste Recycling for Sustainable Development

The rapid increase in plastic production has led scientists and researchers to seek innovative and sustainable approaches for reusing and recycling plastic waste, aiming to mitigate its adverse environmental impact. Plastic waste is finding applications in various sectors, including construction materials, fuel conversion, household goods, fabric, and clothing, offering viable alternatives. Particularly, the utilization of plastic waste in construction materials has gained significant attention. This practice serves a dual purpose: it reduces plastic waste going to landfills or becoming litter and diminishes the reliance on mined construction resources, thus mitigating the construction industry's environmental footprint. This paper provides an overview of developments in utilizing plastic waste as a component of construction materials. Its incorporation as a binder, aggregate, fine aggregate, modifier, or substitute for cement and sand in the production of bricks, tiles, concrete, and roads is comprehensively examined. The impacts of adding plastic waste on properties such as strength, water absorption, and durability are thoroughly explored. The review classifies research studies depending on whether they relate to the incorporation of plastic waste in bricks and tiles or its inclusion in concrete for road construction. The utilization of plastic waste within construction materials emerges as a pivotal locus where environmental, industrial, and social concerns coalesce, propelling us toward a future that champions resource efficiency, ecological harmony, and sustainable prosperity. This paper serves as an illuminating guidepost within this trajectory, celebrating the metamorphosis of a burgeoning idea into a tangible, transformative reality within the larger narrative of sustainable development.