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EPS waste management from coastal cleaning actions: identification of contamination sources, collection, treatment, and re-use in cement-based materials
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This study developed an integrated approach for managing expanded polystyrene (EPS) waste from coastal cleanup activities, including collection, treatment, and incorporation into cement-based building materials. Reusing EPS waste from beaches reduces the amount of plastic that breaks down into microplastics in marine environments.
Finding sustainable solutions to reduce plastic waste in response to today's global environmental challenges is a high priority for the scientific community. Collaboration among many scientists with diverse research interests is the key to success for integrated proposals for the collection, treatment, and reuse of recyclable waste. This study presents proposals for integrated EPS waste management, from identifying pollution hotspots to collection routes, especially on the coast where waste is more abundant and leaves a larger footprint, to reuse in cement-based materials. This paper discusses the various options for recycling low-grade EPS and the potential applications of mortar or concrete containing EPS collected on the coast. The multiple benefits are not limited to reducing EPS waste, but benefit the entire planet, from reducing aggregate consumption to improving building insulation.
More Papers Like This
Performance Characterization and Evaluation of Innovative Cement Mortars and Concretes Made with Recycled EPS
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Not relevant to microplastics — this study evaluates the mechanical strength and thermal insulation performance of cement mortars and concretes that incorporate recycled expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads as aggregate, focused on construction materials.
Assessing the impact of chronic and acute plastic pollution from construction activities and other anthropogenic sources: A case study from the coast of Antofagasta, Chile
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Researchers documented a previously unreported source of plastic pollution: expanded polystyrene (EPS) used as expansion joints at a coastal construction site in Antofagasta, Chile. They estimated that up to 82.9 million EPS spheres could be released into the environment from just one project, with mechanical fragmentation already occurring during construction. The case study reveals that construction activity is an overlooked chronic source of coastal microplastic pollution, and calls for stricter regulations and materials management at building sites near coastal environments.
A Survey on Use of Non-Recyclable Waste in Construction
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This survey reviews strategies for incorporating non-recyclable plastic waste into construction materials, documenting the environmental threat posed by plastic waste in marine ecosystems and its effects on wildlife and human health. The authors conclude that using plastic waste as a component in cementitious composites offers the most promising avenue for improving environmental sustainability while providing a practical construction material.
Valorization of post-consumer plastic packaging into a composite material
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This study developed a composite building material from post-consumer mixed plastic packaging waste, providing a higher-value end use that diverts plastic from landfill. Using plastic waste in durable construction products reduces the amount available to degrade into microplastics in the environment.
A mini-review on expanded polystyrene waste recycling and its applications
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This mini-review summarizes recycling technologies and emerging applications for expanded polystyrene waste, examining mechanical, chemical, and dissolution recycling methods and their practical feasibility for diverting EPS from landfill in both developed and developing countries.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.