Recycling PET straps in paving blocks: Experimental testing and life cycle assessment

Abstract

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) straps cannot be recycled in some regions. The aim of this paper was to evaluate an alternative for recycling discarded PET straps in concrete paving blocks. Fresh and hardened properties of the composite were tested for dosages containing 1%, 5% and 10% of shredded PET straps by total weight. Later, the environmental impacts of this recycling alternative were evaluated using the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. The increase of shredded PET straps content decreased slump, density and flexural strength of blocks, and a content of 5% of plastic had the lowest water absorption. All studied environmental impacts were reduced by increasing the amount of plastic content. Although shredded plastic straps could not improve the technological properties of concrete, except from water absorption, this recycling alternative could still be used to reduce environmental impacts of paving blocks production, substituting raw materials with up to 5% of plastic by weight.