ABSTRUCT

This paper presents a detailed review about waste and recycled plastics, waste management
options, and research published on the effect of recycled plastic on the fresh and hardened
properties of concrete. The effect of recycled and waste plastic on bulk density, air content,
workability, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, impact
resistance, permeability, and abrasion resistance is discussed in this paper

Plastic types
The waste plastics collected from the solid wastes stream is a contaminated, assorted mixture of
plastics. This makes the identification, segregation, and purification of the various types of
plastics very challenging. In the plastics waste stream, polyethylene forms the largest fraction,
which is followed by PET. Lesser amounts of other plastics can also be found in the plastics
waste stream, as given in Table 1 (quantity and types of plastic)

Type of plastic Quantity (1000 tons)

1. polyethylene terephthalate (PET) 1700

2. High density polyethylene (HDPE) 4120
3. Low density polyethylene (LDPE) 5010
4. Polypropylene (PP) 2580
5. Polystyrene (PS) 1990
its beneficial properties, which include:

Extreme versatility and ability to be tailored to meet specific technical needs.

Lighter weight than competing materials reducing fuel consumption during transportation.

Good safety and hygiene properties for food packaging.

Durability and longevity.

Resistance to chemicals, water and impact.

Excellent thermal and electrical insulation properties.

Comparatively lesser production cost.

Unique ability to combine with other materials like aluminum foil, paper, adhesives.

Far superior aesthetic appeal.

Material of choice – human life style and plastic are inseparable.

Intelligent features, smart materials and smart systems.

2.2. Disadvantages of plastics Plastics production

also involves the use of potentially harmful chemicals, which are added as stabilizers or
colorants. Many of these have not undergone an environmental risk assessment and their
impact on human health and the environment is currently uncertain. Such an example is
phthalates, which are used in the manufacture of PVC. PVC has in the past been used in toys for
young children and there has been concern that phthalates may be released when these toys
are sucked (come into contact with saliva). Risk assessments of the effects of phthalates on the
environment are currently being carried out. The disposal of plastics products also contributes
significantly to their environmental impact. Because most plastics are non-degradable, they take
a long time to break down, possibly up to
By far the most common use of phthalates is in the
production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products. 2. PVC is
the second most commonly used plastic in the world, and
is present in pipes and tubing, construction materials,
packaging, electrical wiring, and thousands of consumer
goods