article · Engineering Science and Technology an International Journal
Municipal plastic waste can be recycled into binders to produce pavement blocks through artisanal methods. Research evaluating these blocks examined how geotechnical properties respond to different combinations of aggregates, including washed weathered granite sand, basalt quarry sand, and basalt gravel, mixed with low- and high-density polyethylene or polyethylene terephthalate. Geotechnical assessments revealed that characteristics such as compressive strength and water absorption depend heavily on aggregate nature and size, the chosen plastic type, binder proportion, and the production process. A formulation containing 27.5 percent polyethylene terephthalate combined with equal parts washed weathered granite sand and basalt quarry sand reached an average compressive strength of 32.97 MPa, a water absorption rate of 2.27 percent, and an abrasion index of 0.07. These specific metrics satisfy international standard requirements for pedestrian walkways and light vehicular pavements, showing that controlled formulations can ensure quality in artisanal production.
Managing municipal plastic waste is a persistent challenge for many cities. Demonstrating that discarded plastics can serve as reliable binders in pavement blocks offers an environmentally sound alternative for municipal waste management. Establishing precise formulations helps local producers create resilient paving products without requiring complex industrial machinery, supporting sustainable infrastructure development.
This research is at an applied and tested stage, having produced physical pavement blocks that meet specific ASTM, European, and Indonesian standards. The findings directly target artisanal manufacturers and community-level construction enterprises seeking to convert municipal polyethylene and PET waste into functional paving materials. The established mix designs offer practical formulation benchmarks that producers can immediately apply to supply blocks for pedestrian paths and light-traffic surfaces.
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• Plastic-bonded pavement blocks for pedestrian and light vehicular traffic can be produce by artisanal means. • Optimum binder content is a key control for optimal geotechnical properties. • Different types of plastic and aggregate have different optimal production formulations. • A minimum amount of fine aggregate is required for optimal geotechnical properties. Recycling plastic wastes as binder in pavement blocks can be adopted as a means of managing municipal plastic wastes in Cameroon. The variability in the geotechnical properties of plastic-bonded pavement blocks in the literature suggest a wide interplay of controlling factors that need to be clarified. This study evaluates the controls on the geotechnical properties of pavement blocks produced by artisanal means, using various aggregate (washed weathered granite sand- WS, 0/5 basalt quarry sand-QS & 5/15 basalt gravel -G) and aggregate combinations (50WS50QS, 50WS50G, 50QS50G, 70WS20QS10G) with varying low- and high-density polyethylene (L/HDPE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic waste content. Geotechnical tests were carried out on aggregates and samples of various formulations. An average compressive strength of 32.97 MPa, water absorption of 2.27 % and an abrasion index of 0.07 was obtained at 27.5 % PET for 50WS50QS, which meets the recommended requirements of pavement blocks for pedestrian and light vehicular traffic according to ASTM C-902-22, NF EN 1338:2004 and SNI 03-0691-1996 standards. From the results, the geotechnical properties are influenced by nature and size of aggregate, type and amount of plastic-binder and production method. Finding the optimal plastic-binder content for a given aggregate and plastic type is key in achieving optimal geotechnical properties. The results can serve as a guide for the production of quality plastic-bonded pavement blocks especially in nations where a bulk of their construction materials are produced by artisanal means.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.jestch.2025.101999
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