Page 25 - Plastics News June 2018
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FeAtures
2. Concrete requirements, and have now been used to make
materials like picnic tables and benches.
Recycled plastics can be used to make stronger
concrete structures in the form of sidewalks, 5. PVC Windows
driveways and more. Students at MIT have recently PVC windows have grown in popularity because
conducted experiments with recycled plastic by
exposing small amounts of it to gamma radiation, they are easy to design and can adapt to many
mixing it into a powder and then mixing that into varying styles. A bonus is that because they are
cement paste. made primarily from plastics, the frames are 100%
recyclable. Other benefits include:
Doing so can produce concrete that is up to 15%
stronger than regular concrete, allowing this form • Longer lifetime (up to 40 years)
of construction to be both longer-lasting and more • Surplus of production material
eco-friendly.
• Same insulation quality as regular plastic
3. Indoor Insulation
6. Bricks
Insulation is another essential factor in homebuilding
and buying because it keeps your home’s temperature Bricks are a stable material to build a home with,
regulated all year-round. and more and more companies are embracing the
idea of building bricks with recycled plastic.
Various insulation companies have begun developing
insulation with recycled plastic inside of it because
only a minimum amount of plastic will maximize
your home’s energy efficiency levels.
Additional benefits for insulation from recycled
plastics include:
• Easy installation
• Durability
• Long-term energy savings
4. Structural Lumber
Recycled bricks can be put together in a LEGO-like
way, making a home’s building time much quicker
than it would be with traditional brick. This plastic
product can also be fire-resistant, is cheaper, and,
of course, is more eco-friendly.
7. Fences
Another part of a home-building journey may include
fencing in a backyard or adding a white picket
fence to your front yard. Homeowners can prioritize
sustainability by designing fences from recycled
plastic.
Using recycled plastic as the main ingredient
in structural lumber as an alternative to other Additional advantages of building fences with
materials such as steel, comes with indisputable recycled plastic are:
advantages. • Longevity (can be exposed to many weather
By using plastic to make lumber instead of wood, elements without rotting)
you no longer have to spray wood with toxic • Durability
preservatives to protect it from aspects such as
insects and weather. Rather, the polyethylene • No need for paint (color can be added in during
from recycled plastics does not necessitate such recycling process)
25 June 2018 Plastics News
