Performance Assessment of E-Waste Plastic as a Sustainable Natural Aggregate Substitute in Traditional Concrete: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Around the world, e-waste plastic recycling has emerged as a more popular and creative way to manage electronic waste, which is also being accepted since this resource is available in enormous amounts, comprises many kinds of hazardous components, and possesses a very low recycling rate. At the same time, increasing day-by-day urbanization and industrialization, along with the economy, increases concrete manufacturing and usage globally, leading to environmental pollution and depletion of natural resources. To address the challenges of electronic waste plastic and concrete production, using e-waste plastic as a natural aggregate presents a novel way to conserve resources. This article explores the various types of e-waste plastic, methods for creating e-plastic aggregate, and its application in conventional concrete. Additionally, this article examines the behavior of e-waste plastic aggregate, which affects various concrete characteristics. These include fresh properties like workability, as well as hardened characteristics such as density (both fresh and dried), splitting tension strength, flexural strength, compressive strength, and durability aspects like chloride attack and thermal resistance. This study also seeks to ascertain the appropriate replacement ratio between conventional aggregate and plastic aggregate made from e-plastic. Reusing electronic waste plastic as aggregate is also identified as a new hope for protecting the environment and guaranteeing the secure disposal of the enormous amount of e-plastic waste generated. However, additional research is needed to address e-plastic waste disposal challenges and its use in conventional concrete.