Published Paper Details:

Considerable amount of polymer waste is being generated during filtration stage in manufacturing process of recycled rigid PVC pipes. Locally this waste is called as Jaali Gola. It contains stone and metal particles along with major portion of crude, non-recyclable polymer waste. This waste is great environmental nuisance. The present work has attempted to investigate the feasibility of this polymer waste to be used as aggregates in road work applications. The pipe industry polymer wastes are cut in a cutting machine and particles like natural coarse aggregate are obtained. These particles are called Waste Polymer Aggregates (WPA). These are subjected to different tests recommended by IS codes and the test result indicates that WPA are suitable to be used in bituminous road as a substitute to traditional coarse aggregates. Efforts are also taken to calculate cost of materials per kilometre length of a bituminous road of 3.7 metre width, considering WPA as coarse aggregates for road construction. Calculations show that, total cost of materials in case of waste polymer aggregate road is considerably less than that for a usual stone aggregate road. Further, WPA are also tried with bitumen, as a mix, in an experimental work of repairing of pot holes of an existing bituminous road pavement. The repaired road was under observation for a period of more than one year. It is found that WPA-Bitumen mix is intact in the pot holes and no considerable damage has occurred to it due to traffic. Since WPA-Bitumen mix is performing well in the repaired pot holes, WPA can further be used on large scale in construction of bituminous road pavement. Thus, the outcome of the entire work shows a way to solve the problem of disposal of pipe industry polymer waste in an eco-friendly manner. There will be added advantage of its use since the natural aggregates are getting scarce day by day. Their over exploitation is not only creating environmental nuisance but is also creating socio-economic and political conflicts. The present work thus attempts to solve a twofold problem with single stroke.