Assessing the Compressive Strength of Concrete by Utilizing Recycled Plastic as a Partial Replacement of Fine Aggregate

Plastic waste has become a major problem that affects the environment because it is not easily biodegradable. The amount of plastic waste increases every year as the population grows. One solution to reduce the quantity of plastic is to recycle it and turn it into useful products. If plastic is not recycled, it ends up in landfills and littered on land. Utilizing plastic waste in concrete mixtures can not only improve the compressive strength but also offer a new method for managing plastic waste, which is a significant environmental concern. This study investigates the utilization of recycled plastic waste as a fine aggregate in concrete. The study employed a mix ratio of 1:1.5:3 for concrete and replaced a portion of the fine aggregate with recycled plastic waste at varying percentages of 2.5, 7.5, 12.5, 17.5, and 22.5. The results of the study were focused on analyzing the workability and compressive strength of the concrete to determine the most suitable percentage of recycled plastic waste to be used. It was observed that as the percentage of recycled plastic waste increased, the workability of the concrete decreased. The optimal percentage for enhancing compressive strength through the incorporation of plastic waste was determined to be 7.6% for a 2.5% plastic waste replacement. Overall, recycled plastic waste can be suggested to use with precautions due to its ability to enhance strength when used optimally.