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CHAPTER 6

CONCLUSION

Disposal of EOL electronic products creates major environmental

threat owing to its hazardous content and rapidly growing volume. As one of
the options for the diversion of EOL electronics, recycling option is
considered. In this investigation part of the study describes trends in the
amount of E-waste, methods available to recover materials and existing
recycling programs. In particular various recycling technologies for the
plastics found in E-waste are discussed since E-plastics, which may be
identified as non biodegradable and hard to recycle, constitutes about 21% of
E-waste.

Based on the investigation the following points can be summarized

to explain the effect of E- plastic waste utilization in concrete

• Solid waste management, the complicated task in the Indian

environment is adversely affected by the invasion of E-waste
originating from inland as well as illegal imports from
developed countries for informal recycling practices. It is
essential to design a detailed assessment system of the current
and future E-waste scenario and to establish model facilities
with environmental friendly E-waste management approaches.

• Previous studies have been done on the possibility of waste

glass and plastic as aggregate in concrete. In line with this
aspect it was identified that E-plastic waste can be disposed by
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using them as construction material. Based on the particle size

the E-plastic waste can be used as inert filler material in
concrete.

• The study of workability of E-plastic concrete revealed that

with increased content of E-plastic in concrete marginal
variations in slump was observed in A series as well as B
series concrete. However, with increase in w/c ratio, slump
also increases.

• From the compressive strength tests, it has been confirmed

that within the range of waste E-plastic (4% -24%) as filler
material used in this investigation, reduction in strength was
observed in all A series mixes compared to control mix.
Significant improvement in strength was found in the
compressive strength of concrete with the presence of waste
E-plastic as filler material and fly ash as 10% weight
replacement to cement in concrete. It was observed that the
average percentage of compressive strength gain of B Series
concrete was about 36 % higher than A Series concrete.

• The average percentage gain of Split tensile strength of B

Series concrete was 25.5% higher than A Series concrete.
Flexural strength observations also revealed that the average
percentage of flexural strength gain of B Series concrete was
20% higher than A Series concrete.

• The compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and

flexural strength observations also reveal that the effective
percentage utilization of E-plastic waste as filler material in
concrete was 12% by weight percent of coarse aggregate and
strength gain of B series E-plastic concrete was satisfactory.
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Previous studies done by Ahamed Shayan and Aimin Xu

(2004) reveal that waste E-glass has an effective utilization of
about 17% in concrete as aggregate and investigation by
Alhozaimy and Shannag (2009) waste plastic has a percentage
utilization of about 4% in concrete as aggregate replacement .

• Flexural test on RCC beams showed that E-plastic concrete

specimen with use of 12% E-plastic filler material found to
have the maximum flexural strength which was equal in
comparison with flexural strength of control mix specimen
which was consistent with the previous results obtained by
Mohan kumar and Bangaru Chandran (2009).

• Observations of Chloride attack test, Sulphate attack tests

showed that considerably 16% lesser loss of weight and loss
of compressive strength was observed in B4 mix compared to
Control mix. It is confirmed that incorporation of fly ash in
E-plastic concrete could result in a comparatively denser
matrix of concrete which was reported by Swetha et al (2008).

• Study of permeability parameters also established that

durability of E-plastic concrete is acceptable though slightly
lower than that of the conventional concrete. It is confirmed
that E-plastic mixes substituted with 20% weight replacement
of cement by fly ash proved to improve the pore structure
properties of concrete.

• UPV results also confirmed that the inclusion of E-plastic

waste in the concrete under investigation has been shown to be
advantageous. The maximum percentage of recycling material
in concrete was limited to approximately 20% which is in
good association with the results obtained in previous
investigation using waste glass as aggregate replacement in
concrete Srinivasa Rao et al (2009).
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• This study demonstrates the effect of E-plastic waste on the

various mechanical properties and durability parameters of
concrete and it was reported that utilization of E-plastic waste
in concrete provides definite advantages to minimize the E-
waste disposal problem and effective recycling methodology.

• Strength gain of E-plastic incorporated concrete is satisfactory

and micro structural examinations have also shown that B3
and B4 mixes ( 8% and 12%) produce a dense matrix and
improve the durability properties of concrete incorporating E-
plastic waste and fly ash.

The current practice of E-Waste Management in our country

influenced by numerous factors such as inadequate legislation, informal
recycling etc. This study highlighted the associated problems and strategies
to address these critical issues. Through experimental investigation an
effective waste management system was suggested by the author to recycle
the non hazards and non biodegradable plastic components of E-Waste in
construction application. The usage of E-plastic waste as filler material in
concrete seems feasible which also fulfills the objective of this study to find
an environment-friendly, cost-effective utilization of E-plastic waste and to
protect the environment by minimizing the solid waste disposal. This
recycling option of utilization of waste E-plastic particles associated with
manifold benefits of design of a recycling system which is cost effective,
conservation of resources and waste utilization in an environmentally benign
manner.

6.1 COMMENDATIONS

Waste E-plastic obtained from electronic scrap used in cementitious

mixtures is environmental friendly, property-improving and cost effective.
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The investigation on strength properties of concrete proved that the plastic

waste can be used as filler material in concrete without any long term
detrimental effects and acceptable strength development properties. The
plastic waste substitution in concrete as weight percentage of coarse aggregate
and 10% weight replacement of cement with fly ash significantly improves
sulphate and chloride resistance of concrete according to the results of weight
loss and strength reduction.

The observations of micro structural studies of concrete with E-

plastic as filler material showed that the development of hardened concrete
with improved pore structure is consistent when compared with the results of
conventional concrete. Based on the properties of hardened concrete optimum
E-plastic content as filler material substitution is found to be 12-16% in this
investigation. The use of E-plastic in concrete could save the cost of coarse
aggregate in cementitious mixtures and minimize the environmental impact
due to solid waste disposal.

6.2 SCOPE FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION

• The present study aimed in waste utilization of plastic

components of E-waste in concrete as filler material. Further
studies may be planned to investigate the effect of waste
utilization of plastic components in Bitumen as a part of
finding a sustainable management of the huge quantity of the
waste.

• The use of plastic waste may also be recommended for the

substitution in the manufacture of fly ash bricks as well as
pavement blocks also.