EFFECTS OF SHREDDED PLASTIC AND BOTTLE AS ALTERNATIVE TO

CONVENTIONAL AGGREGATE IN MAKING CONCRETE BLOCKS

__________________________________________

A Research Proposal Presented

To Dr. Sandra B. Aguirre
Mountain Province State Polytechnic College, Tadian, Campus
__________________________________________

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

for our subject, Technical Writing

__________________________________________

Submitted by:
Debbie S. Wacangan
Edmar T. Quizzagan
Harlee A. Banwa
Jenneth C. Dalisan
Jorross K. Gadgadan
Marrero A. Guimpatan
Mitch B. Ngaya-an
Monroe B. Cabay
Rogelio Jr. E. Pascual
Shea Haic Anne B. Balbalin

April 4, 2023

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Pages

Title Page ……………………………………………………………………………..… i

Table of Contents …………………………………………………………………….. ii

List of Figure………………………………………………………………………….… iii

CHAPTER I : Introduction
Background of the Study ………………………………………………………… 1

Conceptual Framework …………………………………………………………. 7

Statement of the Problem ………………………………………………………. 9

CHAPTER II: Methodology

Research Design ………………………………………………………………….. 10

Locale and Population of the Study ………………………….…….…………. 10

Data Gathering Tools ……………………………………………………………. 10

Data Gathering Procedure ……………………………………………………… 11

Treatment of Data…………………………………………………………………. 11

REFERENCES ………………………………………………..………………………. 12

APPENDICES

Interview Guide Questions……………………………………………………… 14

Informed Consent…………………………………………………………………. 15

ii
 LIST OF FIGURE

Paradigm of the Study ……………………………………………………………………..8

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 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

One of the three basic needs of man is shelter along with food and
clothing. Prehistoric man lived in caves and later began to build walls out of
mud. Many techniques were developed over time, with rising demand, cheaper
and faster techniques and materials are essential (Patel, 2020).

Concrete is one of the most commonly used construction materials in the

modern world. This is due to its behavior, strength, affordability, durability,
flexibility, as well as the wide range of applications it offers. Construction
workers trust concrete as a safe, strong, and simple material. It is used in all
types of structures (from single – family homes to multi – story buildings, and
infrastructures). Concrete is used to build foundations, columns, beams, slabs,
and other load - bearing structures (Chowdhury, 2013).

Hollow blocks are a popular building material used in construction, and

alignment plays a crucial role in the overall stability and strength of the
building. Hollow blocks are preferred over building materials due to their
thermal insulation properties, which helps keep buildings cool in hot weather
and warm in cold weather. They are also fire-resistant, making them ideal for
construction (Sun, 2019).

Solid waste (like plastics and bottles) are major concerns throughout the
world. Due to the rising demands in construction industry led to global
warming and the destruction of the environment. Plastic is also utilized as a
coarse or fine aggregate in many cases, which is very advantageous from an
environmental perspective. According to Pacheco-Torgal (2019), the effect of
polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from plastic bottles as a partial substitute for
sand up to (50%) in concrete, recycled PET can be utilized in eco-friendly
concrete production at replacement rates. This approach diminishes the self –
weight of concrete structures and be used for non – structural elements that do
not require high compressive strength due to the properties of such plastic,

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which are primarily different from other aggregates. Hence, the sustainability in
the concrete industry may be enhanced by using such plastic waste along
concrete to meet the requirements of sustainable building and improving
thermal properties reducing the use of natural resources, ingestion of waste,
avoiding pollution, and saving energy (Ferriz – Papi & Thomas, 2017). At
present, many are researching methods on how to incorporate solid wastes in
construction as to lessen the negative effect of the construction industry to the
environment. Many of these studies focus on replacing partial and fine
aggregates in foundations, hollow blocks, and concrete. The construction
industry is one of the most resources – intensive and polluting industries on the
planet. As a result, it bears great deal of responsibility for promoting
sustainability. But what is sustainable construction? Sustainable construction
entails using renewable and recyclable resources and materials. During
construction projects, care must be taken to reduce waste and energy
consumption while also protecting the natural environment around the site.

Concrete hollow blocks are the most prevalent materials frequently

utilized as building envelope components, particularly in developing countries.
It is the preferable choice from an economic and environmental perspective for
constructing concrete walls in a predominantly hot and arid climate because of
its low thermal conductivity. Developing techniques to partially replace some of
its components, like cement and aggregates, with alternative materials such as
plastic, glass, or any kind of solid waste is becoming more and more popular.
As such, various types of research have been conducted on developing
ecologically friendly hollow concrete blocks with sustainable compressive
strength while including recycled waste materials in its constituents to lower
the production cost and reduce environmental pollution (Al-Tarbi et al., 2022).

Andreas Froese coined the idea of using plastic bottles in concrete

building construction in Eco-Tec in 2001 where PET bottles are installed within
the walls along with mortars to shape a structure (Froese, 2014). The Engineers
without Borders at Kansas State University have worked on a method to use
plastic bottles in wall construction of concrete walls. These plastic bottles are
installed horizontally with concrete as mortar between them and also on the

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sides. Further tests were conducted to examine the compressive strength of
concrete masonry units with plastic bottle cores. Results of the test according to
ASTMC140 (Standard Test Methods for Sampling and Testing Concrete
Masonry Units and Related Units) showed that compressive strength is
reasonable however further studies suggested to confirm the validity incase
used in developing countries (Wonderlich et al., 2014).

Many countries in the world promote the use of solid waste in

construction to lessen the negative effects of the construction industry on the
environment mainly pollution. As such, many have researched materials to be
used effectively as replacements for aggregates. Given that waste management
is currently the top priority of many countries, researchers focus mostly on
solid waste as substitute for aggregates. Italy encourages the use of recycled
materials in the production of concrete through the Legislative Decree of 11
October 2017 which mandates the use of at least 5% of recycled material in
concrete structures for public procurement. Furthermore, the Italian structural
code allows the use of recycled aggregate as a total or partial substitute for
natural aggregates, which limits the percentage of natural aggregates
replacement, depending on the concrete grade and its possible structural
applications. Similarly, many European countries have encouraged the
development of recovery processes to transform construction and demolition
wastes (CDW) into secondary raw materials that can be reused in construction.
This is promoted by Directive 2008/98/EC which requires Member States of
Europe to reach a minimum percentage of recovery of CDW of 70% by 2020
(Piccinali et al., 2022).

Similarly, here in the Philippines, the main problem today is the disposal
of plastic and bottle waste. The use of plastic in various places as packing
materials and the products such as bottles, polyethylene sheets, containers,
packing strips, etc. are increasing day by day. Disposal of used plastics by land
filling may be a temporary solution and also affects ground water recharging
and soil microbe activities. The incineration of plastic material will cause
pollution, global warming, and monsoon failure. Investigations done so far have
shown that waste plastics can be utilized for making polymer aggregate blocks

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with ceramics and granite, which can be used in laying footpaths. They can also
be used in the lining of canals. A bitumen blend can be used as a coat over
reinforced cardboard for roofing. Besides enhancing the strength and life of the
roofing, used by the poor, the blend will provide better moisture resistance. A
blend of waste plastics with mastic components and flooring materials provides
floors with more strength, especially in industrial units. Waste polymers also
infuse greater strength when mixed with cement as reinforced concrete.
(Tablang, 2014).

The Philippines is one of the so-called “sachet economies” where

products are packed and repacked and then sold in-plastic packets. It was also
revealed that the Southeast Asian archipelago uses 60 billion plastic sachets
every year from a study of the Global Alliance Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA).
This reality has motivated a group of engineers and entrepreneurs to take up an
initiative that repurposes sachets, from being polluters to an effective solution
to the waste problem of the country. An eco–brick is composed of 100 plastic
laminates, shredded then mixed with wet cement. This mixture is poured into a
brick pressing machine that the group also invented. The finished product can
be used to build various infrastructures, from houses to schools, and buildings.
Eco-bricks look different from ordinary building blocks and resemble Lego
blocks. The plastic laminates also act as an insulator that locks out heat
passing through normal hollow blocks, making eco-bricks cooler and more
durable. A community in Plaridel, Bulacan built a daycare center collecting and
donating their one-off plastics to Green Antz. With discounted eco-bricks, the
local government was not able only to save money, but provide sustainable
learning facilities for kids. A recycling company in Davao City is addressing the
shortage of school chairs by converting plastic waste into useful furniture.
Thirty kilos of plastic make up one school chair, which is seen as a significant
contribution to the city that handles 500-600 tons of trash every day, most of
which end up in waterways (Xinhua, 2019).

Similarly, the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office

(CCENRO) started to recycle waste glass as an aggregate for concrete bricks in
May 2018 as the disposal of waste glass in landfills has become an important

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environmental challenge for CCENRO prompting CCENRO chief Ma. Nida
Cabrera to find ways of recycling them into construction materials. Cabrera
launched the glass recycling program at a city-owned property in the North
Reclamation Area (NRA), about 12 kilometers from the cities landfill located in
Barangay Inayawan wherein the glass is milled or finely ground to replace part
of the sand needed to produce concrete blocks. Under the recycling program,
discarded glasses collected from the city’s garbage are brought to the NRA in
Barangay Mabolo where the plant is located. Accordingly, the plant run by
CCENRO employees produces an average of 100 concrete blocks per day
(Erram, 2018).

Furthermore, in the study of Leron Jr. et al. (2021), the results have
shown that crushed glass can be a full replacement for fine aggregates as it
enhances the strength of concrete and is concluded to be a factor of waste
reduction as well. The performance of concrete mixed with crushed glass was
proven satisfactory because test results were comparable to conventional mix;
most glascrete (glass and concrete) samples even surpass the specific strength
of the conventional. So, this experiment inferred that it is ideal to use glass
concrete in terms of having a goal reinforcing the construction as well as
managing the continuous increase of waste; this is considered a promising
approach since it is sustainable and low cost. The glascrete appear to have a
lighter weight than the traditional mix which can be concluded that the specific
strength or the strength-to-weight ratio of crushed glass concrete is stronger for
both beams and cylinders. Determining the material’s specific strength is an
important index for comprehending its ability to sustain heavy loads in lighter
weights. With this concept, it was concluded this should be a factor when it
comes to advancing technologies and building high-rise infrastructures because
when heavy materials were all mixed in a building, it is more prone to failure
especially as years pass. Infrastructures can experience force majeure any time
of the year and their quality must be sacrificed so having a component with
higher specific strength but lighter weight is very important.

According to the staff of the Provincial Government of Mountain Province,

two of the province’s municipalities, Bontoc and Bauko, have already started

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operating glass shredders to recycle waste glass to be used as partial aggregate
in concrete since 2017. As observed concrete with crushed glass adds to the
aesthetic view of the structure. Also concrete with crushed glass helps the
ability of concrete not to absorb water.

Plastic is one of the leading garbage in the world from Global to Local,
and this pose as a major problem in every country. The ways to reduce this is
by incineration, by gathering all waste into one place known as land fill by
recycling. In our locality the use of shredded plastic as partial aggregate in
concrete are not being practiced due to the fact that shredding plastics take
time and money and also the lack of being practical. As we have observed,
using crushed glass to be used in concrete makes it more compact, avoiding
spaces inside the concrete when it dries, it was because it has been observed
during mixing that smashed glass has no difference between pebbles and sand,
besides it is much more compact and durable which is good for beams,
columns, and foundations of infrastructures.

This is study is to be conducted here in Tadian Mountain Province as

much research has been conducted and has proven that crushed glass and
shredded plastics are durable as partial aggregates and the researchers want to
have a game – changer in the locality as they have observed that there are no
garbage collectors, Material Recovery Facilities, and sanitary landfills found
here in the community and they want to help the construction industry and
reduce the practice of incineration of plastic garbage and making trash into
something useful instead.

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 Conceptual Framework

This study will be guided by the following concepts. After the

theories are presented, the paradigm of the study is also hereby presented.

Waste materials are threats to the environment and are a major

environmental problem. The reuse of waste material as raw materials is
currently being promoted by several countries as a means of solving the
problem on waste disposal and pollution. In the construction industry, waste
materials are reused and recycled by processing waste into raw materials used
in the production of building materials (Dachowski, 2016). An important way to
use the wastes is to introduce them as a powder or filler in the composition of
construction materials (cement, asphalt, concrete, etc.) or to use as aggregates
since concrete can incorporate many types of waste such as silica fume, fly ash,
cinder, husks, tires, glass, polymers, plastic, etc. ( Barbuta et al., 2015).

Green engineering is the development, commercialization, and

application of processes and products that reduce pollution, promote
sustainability, and protect human health while maintaining economic viability
and efficiency. The use of different waste in concrete mix or obtaining new types
of concretes had as result the development of a new type of construction
materials: green materials (Barbuta et al., 2015). These green materials are
utilized in the construction of green buildings and are one of practices that
define green engineering.

RA (Republic Act) 9003, also known as the ecological Solid Waste

Management Act of 2000, establishes the policy framework, institutional
mechanisms, and mandate for local government units (LGU’s) to achieve 25%
waste reduction goal by establishing integrated solid waste management plans,
based on the 3R’s (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle).

The paradigm of the study will follow the IPO model (input, process,
output model). The interview questions regarding benefits and drawbacks of
using shredded plastic and bottle in concrete hollow blocks and the response of
the interviewees regarding the questions will serve as the input which will be
processed through transcription, coding, categorization and thematization and
7
will also be analyzed. The output of the study will be the identified and
described benefits and drawbacks of using shredded plastic and powdered or
pulverized glass in concrete hollow blocks to the structure it is used on and on
its immediate environment.

interview questions regarding the benefits and drawbacks

of using shredded plastic bottles and powderized or
pulverized glass in concrete hollow blocks
response of respondents to the interview questions
INPUT localizing the using of green hollow block

transcription, coding, categorization and thematization of

data
analysis of the data
PROCE survey reseach design
SS

identified and described benefits and drawbacks of using

shredded plastic and powderized or pulverized glass in
concrete hollow blocks on the structure and its immediate
environment
OUTPU recommendation of the hollow block with a shredded glass
T or plastic as a partial aggregate.

Figure 1. Paradigm of the Study

Statement of the Problem

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 This research seeks to determine the benefits and drawbacks of using
shredded plastic and powderized or pulverized glass in concrete blocks on the
structure it is used on and its immediate environment.

Specifically, the study will be conducted to answer the following

questions.

1. What are the benefits of using shredded plastic and powderized or

pulverized glass in concrete blocks on the structure?

2. What are the drawbacks of using shredded plastic and powderized or

pulverized glass in concrete blocks on the structure?

3. How does using shredded plastic and powderized or pulverized glass in

concrete blocks affect the strength of concrete?

CHAPTER II

9
 METHODOLOGY

Research Design

This study will use a qualitative approach. Qualitative approach includes

observation and participant observation (fieldwork), interviews and
questionnaires, documents and texts, and the researcher's impressions and
reactions (Myers, 2020). To be able to answer the research questions of the
study, it will utilize survey method where questionnaires will be distributed with
open -ended questions.

Locale and Population of the Study

This study will be conducted in the municipality of Poblacion Tadian,

Mountain Province. The respondents of the study will be civil engineers and
hollow block workers of Tadian, Mountain Province. Considering the
geographical proximity, availability at a given time, or willingness to participate
in the research, the researchers will use convenience sampling from the
residents of the municipality to determine the respondents. The researchers will
target civil engineers and hollow block workers because the researchers
consider that civil engineers and hollow block makers of Tadian are observing
the results of adding plastic/crushed glass as an additive to their hollow block
products.

Data Gathering Tools

This study will make use of open-ended questions as a survey tool in gathering
data in order to garner in-depth and more detailed responses from the
researchers target respondent. Since there is no validated survey tool that
aligns to the research questions. The questionnaire will be specifically designed
to gather the necessary data in answering the problem of the study. The
researchers will create a survey questionnaire that will be validated by a
qualified individual to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of the survey
questionnaires in gathering data from the target respondent. Validation of
survey instrument is an important activity in the research process (Elangovan
and Sundaravel,2021). The evidence of validity and reliability are prerequisites
to assure the integrity and quality of a measurement instrument [Kimberlin &
Winterstein, 2008].

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Data Gathering Procedure

Prior to the conduct of the study, the questionnaire will be presented to

the adviser and panels for validation and will undergo piloting and reliability
test. After securing the participating demographic, the respondents will receive
a brief orientation in regards to what the purpose of the survey and will be
promised the anonymity of the participants after giving their response. The
researchers will not have any influence to the participants on manipulation of
data.

Treatment of Data

All gathered data from the survey shall be coded, categorized, and
thematized.

REFERENCES

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(2019, October 11). Filipino Engineers Build Eco-Bricks with Plastic Waste.
XinhuaNet. Retrieved April 1, 2023, from
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-10/11/c_138463183.htm

Al-Tarbi, M., Omar, S., Al-amoudi, Al-osta, A., & Al-awsh, A. (2022, May 29).
Development of Eco-friendly Hollow Concrete Blocks in the Field Using
Wasted High-density Polyethylene,Low-density Polyethylene, and Crumb
Tire Rubber. Journal of materias research and technology. Retrieved
March 27, 2023, from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2022.10.027

Barbuta, Bucur, D., Cimpeanu, M., Paraschiv, & Bucur. (2015). Wastes in
Building Materials Industry. INTECH. Retrieved April 1, 2023, from
http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/59933

Chowdhury, R. (2013). Home – Civil Engineering. Home – Civil Engineering.

Retrieved March 30, 2023, from https://civiltoday.com

Dachowski, & Kostrzewa. (2016, August 4). The Use of Waste Materials in the
Construction Industry. World Multidisciplinary Civil Engineering-
Architecture-Urban Planning Symposium 2016, WMCAUS2016.
Retrieved April 1, 2023, from
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2016.08.764

Elangovan, & Sundaravel. (2021, October 26). Method of Preparing a Document

for Survey Instrument Validation by Experts. MethodsX. Retrieved April
2, 2023, from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mex.2021.101326
Ferriz-Papi, J., & Thomas, S. (2020). Recycled Aggregates from Construction to
Demolition Waste in the Production of Concrete Blocks. Journal of
Construction Materials. Retrieved March 25, 2023, from
http://usir.salford.ac.uk/id/eprint/59101/

Kimberlin, Carole & Winterstein, Almut. (2009). Validity and reliability of

measurement instruments used in research. American journal of health-
system pharmacy: AJHP: official journal of the American Society of
Health-System Pharmacists. 65. 2276-84. 10.2146/ajhp070364
Leron, E., Guevarra, B., Roluna, G., Tan, R., & Zalun, G. (2021, February 3).
Innovative Construction Reinforcement Medium Using Crushed Glass:
An Experimental Risk-Waste Reduction Research. Research and Reviews:
Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences. Retrieved April 1, 2023,
from https://www.rroij.com/open-access/innovative-construction-
reinforcement-medium-using-crushedglass-an-experimental-riskwaste-
reduction-research.pdf

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Myers, D. (2020, March 2). Qualitative Research in Information Systems.
Association for Information Systems. Retrieved April 2, 2023, from
https://www.qual.auckland.ac.nz/
Patel, H. (2020, February 13). Hollow Concrete Blocks:All You Need to Know!
Retrieved March 30, 2023, from https://Gharpedia
https://gharpedia.com › blog › holl. . . Hollow Concrete Blocks: All You
Need to Know!

Piccinali, Diotti, Plizzari, & Sorlini. (2022, January 31). Impact of Recycled
Aggregate on the Mechanical and Environmental Properties of Concrete:a
Review. Materials 2022,15,1818. Retrieved March 22, 2023, from
https://doi.org/10.3390/ma1501818

Safinia, & Alkalbani. (2016, June 28). Use of Recycled Plastic Water Bottles in
Concrete Blocks. Creative Construction Conference 2016, CCC 2016, 25-
28 Jun 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2023, from https://ScienceDirect
https://www.sciencedirect.com › pdf Use of Recycled Plastic Water
Bottles in Concrete Blocks

Sun. (2019, July 30). Advantages of Using Concrete Blocks. LinkedIn. Retrieved
March 23, 2023, from https://LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com ›
pulse Advantages of Using Concrete Blocks

Tablang, B. (2014). EVALUATION OF PLASTIC AGGREGATES USED AS

HOLLOW BLOCKS. CENGR 522(SPECIAL PROBLEM) College of
Engineering. Retrieved March 24, 2023, from
https://www.academia.edu/8738681/Plastic_Sand_Hollow_Blocks

Wonderlich, S. (2014). STRENGHT OF CONCRETE MASONRY UNITS WITH

PLASTIC BOTTLE CORES. Department of Architectural Engineering and
Construction Science College of Engineering. Retrieved March 20, 2023,
fromhttps://krex.k-
state.edu/bitstream/handle/2097/17389/SeanWonderlich2014.pdf;seq
uence=1

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 APPENDIX A

Questionnaire

1. Compared with the ordinary concrete blocks what are the advantages and
dis-advantages of the concrete blocks with shredded plastics in terms of the
material to be used and the ratios of the components to be mixed?

2. What is the capacity or how would we rely on the concrete blocks with
shredded plastics in case that a rolling tree or a rock hits the house?

3. What would be the advantages or be the dis-advantages if we use it in a big

infrastructure like buildings or for those have a large distance between the
columns and the beams.

4. What are the advantages and dis-advantages of the concrete blocks with
shredded plastics in an event such as earthquakes, typhoons, heavy rains and
floods?

5. What do concrete blocks with shredded plastics and bottles can do when it
comes in supporting the columns and the beams of the house?

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 APPENDIX B

Informed Consent

Dear respondents,

We, the Student Researchers in MPSPC-Tadian Campus, are conducting a

research study titled, “EFFECTS OF SHREDDED PLASTIC AND BOTTLE AS
ALTERNATIVE TO CONVENTIONAL AGGREGATE IN MAKING CONCRETE
BLOCKS”. For us to gather the data for our study, may we invite you to
participate in a survey that will not take more than an hour. We shall handle
whatever expense entailed for your participation. Your personal identity and
information shall be treated with utmost confidentiality. Your participation to
the survey will give us the valid and reliable data in, which could be the basis in
determining the effects of shredded plastic and bottle as alternative to
conventional aggregate in making concrete blocks.
Your participation to the survey is very much appreciated but in case
you choose not to participate or wish to withdraw, this shall not be taken
against you and rest assured that no harm shall be inflicted upon you.

In case you need to get in touch, you may contact the cellphone number,
09630474444.

The Researchers,

Debbie S. Wacangan
Edmar T. Quizzagan
Harlee A. Banwa
Jenneth C. Dalisan
Jorross K. Gadgadan
Marrero A. Guimpatan
Mitch B. Ngaya-an
Monroe B. Cabay
Rogelio Jr. E. Pascual
Shea Haic Anne B. Balbalin

Conforme: _________________

Name and Signature

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