Innovative recycling: Australian Team Transforms Soft Plastic into Sustainable Concrete

In a groundbreaking development, an Australian research team has discovered an innovative method for recycling soft plastic, transforming it into a valuable component for concrete. This advance has the potential to significantly impact the construction industry and address pressing environmental concerns.

The engineering team, collaborating with three Australian businesses, has created Polyrok—a unique plastic aggregate derived from soft plastics. This recycled material was successfully incorporated into the concrete used for projects such as the Coles Horsham car park and a footpath in Frankston.

This initiative comes at a crucial time, following recent legislation that prohibits the export of waste plastics overseas, reinforcing the need for effective local recycling solutions.

The REDCycle program, spearheaded by Red Group, has facilitated the collection of soft plastics through convenient Recycling bins located outside major supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths. Each day, Australians return approximately two million pieces of soft plastic for Recycling. However, challenges remain, as materials such as plastic bags, wraps, and wrappers are often difficult to process.

Dr. Jonathan Tran, a senior lecturer at RMIT University’s Civil and Infrastructure Engineering department and the project lead, emphasized the disparity in Recycling between hard and soft plastics. “While materials such as glass can be efficiently recycled into alternatives like sand, soft plastics present a greater hurdle,” he explained.

Dr. Tran further noted that soft plastics are incompatible with the sorting machinery commonly used at Recycling facilities. These materials can become lodged in equipment, disrupting the entire Recycling process and ultimately leading to their disposal in general waste instead.

This innovative Recycling initiative not only addresses the challenges associated with soft plastic waste but also paves the way for more sustainable construction practices. As we seek solutions to reduce environmental impact, the development of Polyrok signals a promising step forward in the pursuit of a circular economy.

For further insights on this revolutionary project, you can read more here: Business Insider.