PET Water Bottle Recycling via Enhancing Concrete's Characteristics

Abstract

The escalating global crisis of plastic wastes, coupled with the industry’s demand for sustainable materials highlights the need for innovative recycling solutions. This study investigates the use of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle fibers as a sustainable additive in concrete to mitigate the environmental impact of single-use plastics that often remains in landfills for extended periods. PET bottles were selected for their recyclability and environmental efficiency. They were collected, cleaned and then processed into fibers of size 50 mm x 2.5 mm. These fibers were then incorporated into concrete at proportions of 0%, 2%, 3%, and 4% by volume. The mechanical performance of the resulting concrete was assessed using cube, beam and cylindrical molds to measure compressive, flexural and tensile strengths after 28 days of curing in accordance to Indian Standard procedures. Five distinct mixes were tested, enabling a systematic analysis of PET fiber content’s influence on concrete behavior. Experimental results showed a decline in workability as PET fiber percentage increased thus indicating a trade-off between sustainability and fresh concrete performance. Compressive strength decreased by an average of 48.01% at 4% PET fiber content, while tensile strength remained stable at 3% but diminished at 2% and 4%. these findings underscore the potential of PET fiber-reinforced concrete as a sustainable solution however its mechanical properties requires careful consideration for practical applications.