Plastic’s had a pretty bad wrap in recent months. It’s been demonised for poisoning our oceans and killing the creatures that live in them.
But what if, instead of flushing our plastics, we crushed them instead and turned milk cartons, food wrapping and those bottles that clog up space in the shower into something else?
Recycling’s not new but what’s exciting are the innovative uses being found for plastic waste in the construction industry.
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If you’re looking to mould a new career with a new role in the building sector from s1jobs, then get ready to save the world.
A Top Idea
Roof tiles made from plastic are light in weight, so cheaper to transport and easier to handle. They can be installed faster than traditional tiles and they’ve a lower carbon footprint. What’s not to love?
The Bottom Line
Concrete is the footprint and foundation on every new build and now studies have shown that mixing powdered plastic into cement paste can produce stronger, more durable material.
Toppling Timber
Recycled structural-strength plastic can be used in place of timber. It has the advantage over wood that it doesn’t weather and its use in decking and outdoor furniture is already well-established.
Playing With Bricks
Yes these really do exist and, no, we are not talking about Lego. Fire-resistant plastic bricks are a lightweight but durable alternative to traditional bricks and, when made from recycled materials, they are cheaper and more eco-friendly.
On The Picket Line
Plastic fencing does away with the need for annual painting, it never rots and it comes in a range of colours, making garden maintenance a dawdle.
Be Street Smart
Plasphalt isn’t a village in Bavaria, it’s a road surface made from mixing grains of recycled plastic into traditional asphalt to create a road surface that’s tough and less liable to deteriorate. Goodbye potholes, hello plastic tar!
Become Well Read
If you want a recycled building material that’s not made of plastic, look to Norway where they found a way of turning old newspapers into timber. The technique is a bit like making papier-mâché, only on a very large scale, and once the ‘wood’ has dried out it can be sliced into planks, sealed with waterproof and flame-retardant material and used to build just about anything.
Brimming with good ideas for recycled construction? Put them to good use with a Construction/Trades role from s1jobs.