Using shredded plastic shopping bags wastes in soil Improvement

Abstract

Colossal tonnages of waste are produced each year worldwide, with a considerable amount being in the form of plastic (polyethylene) grocery bags. Most of this is non-degradable and destined for landfill. This study investigated the potential of utilising this type of waste to reinforce soils paving way for its use in civil engineering projects such as in road bases, embankments and structure foundations. A comprehensive test programme was undertaken including direct shear tests on two selected sandy soils. Plastic strips were used as reinforcement inclusions at concentrations of up to 0.3% by weight. The effect of the dimensions of the strip was investigated by varying the length of the strips from 15 to 45 mm and the width from 6 to 18 mm. Shear strength parameters were obtained for each composite material from which analyses were done to identify the extent of the soil improvement. The laboratory experiments favourably suggest that inclusion of these strips in sandy soils would be an effective soil reinforcement method.