A Critical Review on Application of Waste Plastic as a Valuable Resource in the Construction Industry

Abstract

This review paper emphasizes the discussion on how soils, groundwater, land, agricultural land, freshwater, and marine ecosystems are becoming increasingly vulnerable to plastic and microplastics pollution. Microplastics are widely distributed through the breakdown of plastic products through physical or biochemical processes. While most research on plastics has been conducted from ecological, chemical, agricultural, and health perspectives, this review paper highlights the value of incorporating a civil perspective. Review ratings are based on a variety of studies and assess the amount, persistence, and degradation of plastic and microplastics in soils. The possible role that solid waste disposal facilities – particularly landfills – might play in contamination is also addressed. We look at the geotechnical design of these facilities and raise awareness of the possibility that microplastics can leach from landfills into soils and other environments. In addition, the study identifies other uses of plastic and microplastics as possible local sources, for construction materials including the use of tire chips, foundry sand, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to improve the properties of construction materials, and dredged sediments to form engineered fills. Ultimately, the review highlights the importance of plastic waste as a source and as a tool to mitigate the impacts of plastic on civil structures and offers several research directions within this discipline to address and counteract the impacts.