GREEN BUILDINGS BETCK105B

MODULE 1

RECYCLING OF PLASTIC AS BUILDING MATERIAL

Plastics are manufactured in different forms such as moulding pipes, sheets and films

Here are the some five ways in which recycled plastic is being used for construction
purposes:

PVC Windows

PVC windows are specifically produced from high-grade Poly Vinyl Chloride. Being
primarily made up of plastic, the frames of these windows are 100 % recyclable. These can
be recycled several times and be used again in new windows. PVC windows are not only
known to have a longer lifespan, but these also provide the same insulation quality as regular
windows. Other than rubber and plasticised PVC, plastic can also be used to seal modern
windows.

Bricks

Plastic, being the biggest culprit, when it comes to waste production, accounts for
nearly 90% of the total waste that accumulates in our seas and oceans. There is a persistent
stream of innovative ideas to tackle this mounting issue, and making bricks out of plastic is
one among them. Known to fasten up the construction work as compared to the traditional
bricks, recycled bricks made up of plastic are considered to be fire-resistant, cost-effective,
and even eco-friendly. Additionally, these are lighter in weight and have superb heat-
insulating properties.

Recycled plastic bricks are coming into use, which have many advantages like –
 Low environmental impact.
 Reduced energy consumption
 Thinner and lighter than conventional bricks
 Low-cost modular housing
 Building structurally sound to withstand an earthquake
 Excellent insulation properties (about 5 times more than conventional bricks)
 Very good noise insulation

Roofing Tiles

Roof tiles made up of recycled plastic is not only inexpensive but also high-quality and cost-
effective. These are lightweight in comparison to traditional asbestos slates and resistant to
UV radiations. With multiple advantages such as attractive appearance, extended durability,
good sound insulation, and easy processing, roofing tiles having plastic as content, are quite
common nowadays. These are even easy to install and clean than the conventional slate
counterparts.

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Carpets

Recycled plastic can also be used to produce long-lasting products such as carpets, the
manufacturers have been able to make carpet fibres with the help of recycled plastic such as
the plastic used in the production of beverage bottles, the carpets made up of plastic are stain-
resistant and colour-fast.

Fencing

Designing fences from recycled plastic is another great way to become sustainable in your
approach. Fencing products made up of plastic are manufactured using High-Density
Polyethylene (HDPE), which originates from plastic products, including detergent bottles and
milk jugs. When used for commercial properties, these provide significant benefits such as
protection from insects, choice of colours and profiles, durabilit and low-maintenance.

Recycled Concrete

Recycling concrete consists of breaking, removing, and crushing concrete from an existing
location, and then using it to create a new, reusable material

Recycling of waste concrete is done to reuse the concrete rubble as aggregates in concrete.
The recycled aggregates have less crushing strength, impact resistance, specific gravity and
has more absorption value as compared to fresh aggregates.

Necessity of Concrete Recycling: Millions of tonnes of waste concrete is generated every

year around the world due to following reasons:

1. Demolition of old structure,

2. Destruction of buildings and structures during earthquakes and wars,
3. Removal of useless concrete from structures, buildings, road pavements etc.
4. Waste concrete generated due to concrete cube and cylinder testing, destructive
methods of testing of existing structures etc.

Advantages of Concrete Recycling: Usually demolished concrete were shipped to landfills

for disposal, but due to greater environmental awareness, the concrete is being recycled for
reuse in concrete works. There are a variety of benefits in recycling concrete rather than
dumping it or burying it in a landfill. Keeping concrete debris out of landfills saves space
there. Other Benefits of Recycling of Concrete are:

 Local Product – Local Sources

 Reduces Truck Traffic
 Alternative to a Non-Renewable Resource
 Cost Savings

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 No Disposal Fees
 Better Trucking Utilization (Reduced Costs)
Recycled concrete can be used as an aggregate ingredient in concrete mixtures in
construction projects. This is an excellent alternative to natural gravel. Moreover, using
recycled concrete as an aggregate reduces the use of cement in the construction process,
which is beneficial both economically and environmentally.

Uses of Recycled Concrete:

 Landscaping: Recycled concrete can be used for residential and commercial landscaping
projects, including in the construction of retaining walls, raised flower and garden beds, to
build yard drainage systems and sized down as decorative gravel.
 Construction: Use recycled aggregate or gravel made from recycled concrete for engineered
structural fill and embankments, as well as a sub-base material for foundations, parking lots
and driveways.
 Roadways: recycled concrete is used whenever possible to repair, reconstruct and
maintain the National Highway System, which include construction of paved roadways.
These same processes can be used for local and small scale roadways as well.
 Development: Recycled concrete has been successfully used in several types of industrial,
warehouse and office development projects, including as part of the foundation and standing
structures.
 Community: Public sidewalks, walkways and asphalt pavement courts can be made out of
recycled concrete and are typically just as durable and long-lasting as fresh concrete.
 Environment: The production of recycled concrete is better for the environment which
reduces the pollution.

BRICK
Bricks are recycled in several ways. They can be chipped and used in landscapes. Bricks,
when crushed into very fine material, can also be used in place of sand or even go into new
bricks. Bricks, depending upon different factors, are recycled in different ways.

Benefits/Advantages of Recycled brick

 Saves natural resources — Recycling bricks reduces the need to extract new clay and
shale, which are used to make new bricks. This helps to conserve natural resources and
reduce the environmental impact of brick production.
 Reduces energy use — Manufacturing new bricks requires a lot of energy, including
firing the bricks in kilns at high temperatures. Recycling bricks conserves energy
because the bricks have already been fired and do not need to be re-fired.
 Reduces greenhouse gas emissions — The production of bricks is a significant
source of greenhouse gas emissions, primarily due to the energy used in the firing
process. Recycling bricks reduces the overall greenhouse gas emissions associated
with brick production.

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 Reduces waste — Recycling bricks helps divert waste from landfills, reducing the
environmental impact of waste disposal. It also reduces the emissions associated with
transport to landfill.
 Saves money — Recycling bricks can be a cost-effective alternative to buying new
bricks, particularly if the bricks are in good condition and can be reused as -is or with
minimal processing.
 Preserves history — Recycling old bricks can help to preserve the history and
character of a building or community.
Uses of Recycled Brick
 Environmentally friendly and sustainable option. Each re-used brick is a brick that is
saved from landfill.
 Those leftover bricks are perfect for creating a lovely informal walkway or path to
your door.
 Strong and durable material.
 Versatile product.
 Recycled bricks are great for internal and external wall finishes, structural building work,
garden paving, garden edging, garden walls
 Old bricks can be used for paving new walkways around your home,
 Old bricks can be used for building retaining walls around flowers in your garden
Recycling of Steel

Steel is the world’s most recycled construction material and approximately 40% of all steel
production is based on recycled scrap.

Benefits of recycling steel

 It reduces the consumption, expenses, energy, and time to mine other valuable
resources.
 For every ton of recycled steel, it saves one and a half tons of iron ore, half a ton of
coal, and 40% of the water normally used in the production process.
 By using ferrous scrap rather than virgin materials in the production of iron and steel,
CO2 emissions are reduced by 58 %.
 The more steel is recycled, the less space it takes up in landfills. Over time, this means
a cleaner environment and fewer health concerns from contaminated soil or
groundwater.
 One of the major benefits of recycling steel is the fact that steel can be recycled over
and over again without losing its innate strength. Reusing steel doesn’t degrade the
products’ strength or value and it has a great weight capacity.
 While recycled steel is no different in quality than new steel, it is however
cheaper. Its lightweight nature means less use of heavyweight equipment and
lifts. Additionally, builders save money on maintenance and repair due to
steel’s long life span and durability.

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