1

THE USE OF SHREDDED PLASTICS AS THE MAIN COMPONENT OF ECO

BRICK

A Quantitative Research

presented to the Faculty of Basic Education Senior High School

UNIVERSIDAD DE SANTA ISABEL

Elias Angeles St., Naga City

Jherica Espiritu

Gaillian Gwyn Naval

Ryezher Jayan Padolina

Jessa Pasobillo

Sharilynn Reynolds
 2

ABSTRACT

The implementation of shredded plastics as the major component of an eco brick would

benefit not just this study, but the society as a whole. This study focuses mainly on the

use of recycled plastics in more promising materials, such as an eco brick. To create the

eco brick, the researchers made use of discarded and leftover plastics with sand and

cement. Using plastics as the primary component of an eco brick might provide a

cost-effective alternative to conventional hollow blocks while maintaining the same

density and benefiting society. Furthermore, concrete is one of the most often used

materials in our society, thus the researchers decided to conduct this study. Since the

increased usage of cement may cause a disruption in the proportion between material

supply and demand, shredded plastics will be used as an alternative for manufacturing

hollow blocks. This study would allow the researchers to make better use of wasted

plastics and evaluate the influence of shredded plastics on concrete's flexural and

compressive strength. This study would also aid in reducing the uncontrolled usage and

disposal of plastics. It may have disadvantages, such as identifying which materials or

plastics will be utilized, as some plastics cannot be recycled. However, by manufacturing

eco bricks, the researchers would be able to create something that is more durable and has

a greater density than commercial blocks. Hence, Eco Bricks are a great replacement to

conventional hollow blocks and are also advantageous for the environment.
 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction………………………………………………………………………………..4

Methods……………………………………………………………………………………7

Results…………………………………………………………………………………....11

Discussions…………………………………………………………………………...….13

Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………….14

Acknowledgments……………………………………………………………………….15

References……………………………………………………………………………….16
 4

INTRODUCTION

Humans already are battling a worldwide war against the plastic-obsessed world,

and it is no secret that the moment to engage meaningful action is now. The amount of

waste generated by the use of plastics has a significant environmental impact. Scientists

have also just begun a protest to raise awareness about how little time humans have to

change and save the Earth. One of the possible remedies and beneficial activities to take

is to implement Eco Bricks. Individuals are likely to contribute by transforming obsolete

and disposed plastics into a larger and more useful material. According to studies, more

than 300 million metric tonnes of plastic are manufactured each year, with much less than

the majority of this being standard. Worse, around 86% of such a material winds up in

landfills or the seas. This may seem hard to eradicate plastic throughout your everyday

life, but unless the others who make the plastic bring their production to a total cease,

people will certainly end up having any type of plastic in all households. Nevertheless,

there seems to be an amazingly simple and efficient answer towards this massive issue

humanity suffers - ecobricks.

According to an article that was published by Suzie Hall, the ecobrick campaign

has gained traction in recent years as plastic pollution has made tremendous worldwide

media attention. This is a long-term initiative that might contribute to the preservation of

the Earth and the development of more environmentally friendly alternatives. Despite the

fact that it has gained popularity in recent years, limited individuals have chosen to

participate. Plastic is quite common in homes and on the roads, thus it has become an

increasingly popular building material, particularly in developing nations. (Hall, 2020)

 5

When plastic is disposed of, it tends to break down into very small fragments and pollutes

the environment. Through the production of Eco Brick, unwanted plastics will become

useful to our society and could help in reducing pollution and the excessive use of plastic

in our environment.

As a result, the researchers devised a study involving the use of disintegrated

plastics since the core parts of ecological bricks, as EcoBricks lock all plastic away,

limiting the development of hazardous gasses generated and during decomposition of the

plastic, such as methane. The researchers are expected to store most plastics away whilst

also being constructive and participating in the sustainability of the Earth as a result of

this study. Sanguinely, more people should engage in these kinds of actions, since they

are immensely helpful to all of us.

 6

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Here are the following questions that this study would like to be answered:

1. What is the potential of shredded plastics as a component of eco brick?

2. Which composition of shredded plastics, sand, and cement is the most

effective for making a brick that can withstand compression?

3. Is there a significant difference between eco brick and a regular block?

HYPOTHESIS

1. The eco brick composed of shredded plastics, sand, and cement is better than the

regular blocks.

2. There is no significant difference in the density of eco brick and regular blocks.
 7

METHODS
 8

Schematic Diagram of the Study

I. Shredding of Plastics

In this study, the main component of an Eco Brick will be 1 kilogramme of

shredded plastics.

The researchers' goal is to locate discarded

plastics that may be reused and recycled. The

recovered plastics would be shredded using a

shredder machine to produce a more refined

and processed substance. The plastic was

chopped into much smaller pieces using a

cross-cut shredding procedure, allowing the plastic bottle to be filled and generate

some weight. (see Fig 1. )

II. Mixing the Materials: Sand, Cement, and Shredded Plastics

After shredding the plastics, the researchers would begin combining all of

the required components, including the shredded plastics, 2 kilograms of sand, and

cement.
 9

The researchers used the Hydration method, which is defined as the chemical reaction

that occurs between cement and water, as well as the inclusion of shredded plastics, as

this reaction is exothermic in nature, releasing a significant amount of heat during the

hydration of cement. This would allow the researchers to create a thicker material as well

as an eco brick with greater strength and stiffness.

III. Putting the Mixture into the Mold

After combining all of the necessary materials, the combined mixture

would be placed in the brick mold. This is essential to shape the material in order

to construct a stronger concrete block that will not readily break. The concrete

mixture is poured or

compacted into a secure

mold, which is a wood

molded into the size and

proportions of a typical brick

(see Fig. 2), after thoroughly

mixing with water. Vibration

can be used to help air bubbles rise in the mix after it is placed in the mold, as well

as to liquefy less watery blends.

IV. Letting the sand dry for at least six hours

 10

The final stage in building an eco brick is to allow the mixture to solidify.

The researchers made use of the Air Drying process in which the concrete dried through

air. To avoid having an unstable or sloppy brick, let the sand cure for at least six hours, if

not longer. This is the final stage in assisting the researchers in determining if the Eco

Brick has adequate durability and strength equivalent to traditional hollow bricks.

RESULTS

I. Using a drop test to determine the durability of an eco brick than a regular

brick

The Eco Brick was retrieved from the molder once it had dried, and this is

how it turned out.

The drop test was performed on the brick to

determine its compressive strength. The brick was

lifted to a height of 4 to 4.5 feet, closer to the

person's chest level, then dropped onto the hard

ground surface. The brick did not shatter, and the

researchers discovered that Eco bricks are

stronger, heavier, and more compact than standard bricks. (see Fig 3. )
 11

Table 1 : Drop test trial results

DROP HEIGHT REGULAR BRICKS ECOBRICKS

4 FT 5 5

4.5 FT 4 4

5.0 FT 3 4

5.5 FT 2 3

6.0 FT 1 2

5- No Changes 4- Small Particles Comes Off 3- Slightly Breaks in Half 2- Almost

Broken 1- Totally Damaged

According to Architecture for Humanity, A drop test is the easiest technique to

determine a building block's strength. If it survives a 6-foot fall, it is strong enough to be

used in a structure. (What Is a Drop Test?, 2014) When comparing the two findings, The

researchers can observe that the Eco brick passed the durability drop test while the

conventional brick failed. The normal brick was repeatedly smashed as the drop height

increased in 4 out of 5 trials, and it did not even reach the 6ft standard because it was

practically broken. While the ecobrick was not impacted in any way, there appeared to be

no difference, and it has been consistent since the beginning that it has no evidence of

being shattered, proving that using plastic as the shredded component of eco brick

strengthens and makes it more resilient.

 12

Table 2: Statistical Test

DISCUSSIONS

The results of this study indicates that the use of shredded plastic as a component of

an eco brick can make the eco brick more durable than any regular brick thus making the

brick fits the standard to be used in structures. The researcher’s breakthrough is that it can

regenerate not only plastic trash but also other wastes such as paper and glass from

plastic to bricks. This will be of great use to the waste management society. The

fundamental benefit of Eco brick is that it transforms something that would be destructive

to the environment into something that benefits local people and poor nations. Eco bricks

are free, absorb sudden shock loads, are reusable, simple to work with, lightweight, and

reuse the plastic that is fast threatening to take over the ecosystems.
 13

CONCLUSION

Thus, based on the preceding discussion and the study as a whole, it is feasible to

conclude that recycling is crucial in today's trash management. Eco bricks are an effective

method for incorporating recyclable and non-biodegradable elements into a time capsule.

Although non-recyclable garbage from consumption helps to control the plastic problem,

it is important to remember that it is only a temporary solution, and so the future of eco

bricks is limited. The turning point in resolving the world's garbage and plastic issue is

responsible consumption and government legislation guiding the best strategy by holding

large trash producers accountable so that environmental responsibility can filter down to

end-users of such things. Although zero-waste lifestyles may look unattainable today,

they represent the future to which humans must strive.

 14

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The researchers want to express our gratitude and appreciation to everyone who

assisted us in completing this capstone project. Thank you to Universidad de Santa Isabel

for spearheading this endeavor. Special thanks to Alvin Posangco, our teacher, for his

support, stimulating suggestions, and encouragement in the creation and writing of this

project. The researchers really appreciate the effort spent proofreading and correcting the

mistakes in this paper. Also, The researchers would also like to thank the group members

who contributed to this project by giving their time, allowing us to continue forward with

our final result. This project would not have been possible without the Lord's blessings

and direction.
 15

REFERENCES

All House Related Solutions - GharPedia. (2018). Unknown.

https://gharpedia.com/blog/eco-bricks-much-needed-solution-to-plastic-pollution/

Averbuck, A. (2021, June 3). Eco-brick - an effective way to upcycle plastic waste.

Lonely Planet.

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/eco-brick-an-effective-way-to-upcycle-plastic-was

te

Hall, S. (2020, February 26). What are Ecobricks and are they a Solution to Plastic

Pollution? AZoCleantech.Com.

https://www.azocleantech.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=1054

Low, C. (2022, March 9). Ecobricks: Plastic Solved. The Sustainability Project.

https://thesustainabilityproject.life/blog/2018/10/07/ecobricks-plastic-solved/

Mouton, S. (2019, July 25). Are ecobricks the answer to plastic pollution? Unknown.

https://phys.org/news/2019-07-ecobricks-plastic-pollution.html

What is a Drop Test? (2014). Students Rebuild.

https://www.studentsrebuild.org/stories/what-is-a-drop-test