ABSTRACT
The use of plastic has increased significantly over the past few decades due to its relatively low production cost, high durability and light weight. Plastics are usually synthetic or semi-synthetic organic polymers that have a high molecular mass and are produced from the chemical reaction of petrochemicals formed from fossil fuels. Plastic has a wide variety of applications, from short-term use to long-term infrastructure materials. Plastic can also be used for durable consumer applications with an intermediate lifespan, such as electronic goods, furniture and vehicle parts. Plastics recycling began in the 1970s, as plastic’s non-degradability came into focus. Although plastics are lightweight, they occupy a large volume of landfill space and remain in the landfill forever, reducing the amount of space available for more environmentally friendly waste burial. Recycled plastic has been widely used in mainstream construction products, such as damp-proof membranes, drainage pipes, ducting and flooring, due to its durability, low weight, low maintenance, resistance to vandalism, and non-degradability.
