Solid, Liquid, Hazardous, Bio-medical and Electronic Waste PLAS-CRETE: Manufacture of Construction Blocks with shredded PET and HDPE

http://cehi.org.lc - Karen Alleyne - June 1, 2012

ABSTRACT

This project is based on the development, testing and evaluation of lightweight aggregate
cementitious products utilizing shredded Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and High Density
Polyethylene (HDPE) from shredded plastic bottles and crates. The innovation for this project is
twofold. Firstly, thousands of PET and HDPE plastic materials, particularly plastic bottles, are
improperly disposed of each day resulting in large volumes of plastic waste entering and
remaining in the natural environment. This has become a solid waste management challenge in
Guyana since it is estimated that over 10,000 tonnes of waste plastic are discarded yearly, in
Georgetown alone. Secondly, efficient means of re-using waste plastic, particularly PET and
HDPE must be found since in developing countries it may not be economically viable based on
the volumes of plastic produced, to recycle.

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