At I’mnovation-Hub, we often discuss innovative building materials, many of which are proposed as sustainable solutions. An American startup is now exploring the use of giant plastic bricks as a constructive alternative to concrete.
This company plans to implement this technology in a community project aimed at processing waste from a landfill in Idaho, USA, to create infrastructure and street furniture.
In this article, we will cover:
What are plastic bricks made of?
Plastic recycling faces various challenges, such as waste mixing and organic contamination. Some plastics are difficult to recycle and end up in landfills. To address this issue, solutions like plastic-eating bacteria are being explored to repurpose plastics into useful materials.
Instead of breaking down plastic waste, this new technology utilizes plastics from different sources to create colorful blocks that can be used in walls or street furniture production, among other applications.
Known as ByBlock, these plastic bricks are 16 inches high, 8 inches wide and deep, and weigh 22 pounds. They boast durability and do not suffer from cracks or spalling. But how are they manufactured?
The manufacturing process
The process of creating these plastic bricks involves three key stages:
- Collection of discarded plastic materials such as bags (LDPE), water bottles (PET), or plastic jugs (PP).
- Shredding the waste.
- Compacting the shredded plastic into bricks using high-temperature steam with a patented process.
The manufacturer has developed modular, easy-to-transport machines that can crush and compact plastics on-site, making it versatile and suitable for different locations without the need for cleaning or sorting.
For every ton of plastic waste used, one ton of plastic bricks can be produced.
A street bench made of plastic bricks
The manufacturer has partnered to utilize this technology in the Greater Boise Metro area in Idaho, processing up to 72 tons of plastic from local landfills to create recycled blocks.
One of the initial outcomes of the project is a street bench made from recycled plastic installed in a local park. Furthermore, the material is expected to be used for other purposes like bus shelters in the future.
Other examples of recycled plastic in the construction industry
Various construction alternatives utilizing plastic have emerged, such as the Trashpresso prototype that converts plastic bottles into tiles for buildings using solar energy.
Additionally, a Scottish company created MR6, an asphalt mix that reduces bitumen usage in conventional asphalt production by 10% for road construction.
Moreover, companies are repurposing plastic from disposable coffee cups to create construction boards that replace plywood.
All these examples, including plastic bricks, emphasize the importance of the circular economy to achieve zero waste and promote sustainability in manufacturing and consumption.
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