Eco India: Can we construct using just plastic waste and dust?

Every week, Eco India brings you stories that inspire you to build a cleaner, greener and better tomorrow.
Concrete is literally the foundation of modern life, the most-used material in our built environment. But the list of its negative effects is long, including a colossal carbon footprint, and waste that chokes landfills. A company here in India has come up with an alternative: A building block that makes use of not just one, but two types of problematic waste.
Credits:
Supervising Producer: Nooshin Mowla
Field Producer: Chirag Solanki Executive Producer & Script: Sannuta Raghu Video Editor: Amit Garg (Metro Media Works) Associate Producer: Ipsita Basu Director of Photography: Rohan Magare
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[@geetabhatt5779]

The factory worker must be protected from plastic dust with masks, shoes, gloves etc. Exposure to fine particles is a HEALTH hazard.

[@ArunBasilLal]

Thank you for saying this. The factory workers might be thinking they are doing something wonderful, while hurting their own health.

[@slo3337]

Ya but, it's India

[@cerveauy8782]

​@@slo3337but India is evolving everyday.

[@fullcircle4723]

Making money is more important 😂

[@apricotcomputers3943]

welcome to India 🎉

[@mtiken]

I think a lot more hazard testing needs to be done for this. It involves plastic and heavy metal.

[@karthikdevaraj9040]

Thank you! I was just about to point out exactly that

[@DanielSilva-jj2lz]

@@lalchandkate6696 plastic does not dissolve in water, so even if it is thrown into the landfill, it will be safer than sand alone, because it is compacted the volume will be reduced, so it decreases the space occupied in the landfill, the end result is positive even in the worst case scenario .

[@varunemani]

Best case of reusability available for the forseeable future possibly. Meaning standards including hazard test though are a real concern, mostly go out the window once the market viability takes precedence.

[@kl3nd4thu]

I would be wary of the material being used for flooring. The material will eventually wear down. So the resulting dust will be full of microplastics and heavy metals.

[@lenny108]

You need to collect lots of plastic bags in the city to make these bricks

[@thewatersavior]

They mentioned the silica waste can have heavy metals.. how is that handled in the production (worker protection) and when used in exterior applications. Plastic degrades in the sun.. how does this hold up?

[@tomhubbard353]

That was my thought also. "Yes this foundry dust is poison, so now we are adding it to building materials so everyone gets an even dose." WHAT? I have seen and like the idea of plastic and sand to make pavers but foundry waste HMMMM

[@varunemani]

Best case of reusability available for the forseeable future possibly. Meaning standards including hazard test though are a real concern, mostly go out the window once the market viability takes precedence.

[@RoachDoggJunior]

We both know how it holds up.

[@thewatersavior]

@@RoachDoggJunior One can dream of subatomic interactions in the presence of prolonged UV.. right? Just add quantum 😛

[@SanjayGupta-nt9vn]

All I see is basic building blocks such as pavers, floor tiles. Terracota and clay bricks 🧱 have their own benefits and aesthetic appeal. These recycled plastics have to prove themselves that they don’t leach harmful fumes and decompose into a hazardous waste. As such we in india do not have effective recycling of demolished concrete buildings at the end of their life cycle. They just end up in landfills.😢

[@varunemani]

Best case of reusability available for the forseeable future possibly. Meaning standards including hazard test though are a real concern, mostly go out the window once the market viability takes precedence.

[@raymondmumford6255]

Amazing product. India is an awesome country with wonderful people, anything that can be done to help reduce waste is a fantastic step forward.

[@dexterousdivya]

1.I dont think it would provide same amount of load bearing capacity compared to traditional ecoblocks or bricks if being used in construction. But good alternative for pavement and for low load bearing conditions. 2. The plastic would degrade over the time due to UV light exposure resulting micro plastic contaminating environment. However decaying of the plastic can be stopped by post processing UV resistant coating.

[@sabrekai8706]

So, go buy a few and do the testing. Post the results. I'm curious as to the cement they use to put up the tiles and place the floor. What sort of finish would give a better choice of colors, and longer lasting colors.

[@dominicdmello7531]

One consistent fear is using these for floor tiles can cause both microplastics & heavy metal particulate in the air due to abrasion.

[@classic-hb8vs]

Is this something you know about please? I am asking because I do not know and just trying to gain knowledge, please. You see this is all new to me and I am studding it like maybe you and others. I figure if we ask each other questions we can all learn.

[@kwikirizajames-fc2sx]

My dear thanks for thinking because you are seeking knowledge. in short there is limited and no effects to the air nor soils,how? When we melt the plastics,it means it will have lost the microplastics particles since it involves mixing sand and porridge like form of melted plastics. And there is no effects of air pollution ,because once the abrasion happens the particles can easily degrade since the highest percentage is sand. Thanks!

[@ValleyProud916]

Okay, so no wearing golf shoes on the floor and it should be safe!😅

[@NitishYadav-lb7zc]

Yes it would require carpets i think 😅

[@bokunochannel84207]

those metal dust actually mixed in aspalt and pavers bricks. sowe already surrounded by it the whole time.

[@Salazarsbizzar]

this intelligent transformation of trash to resource is a real game changer and needs to be implemented globally. India has many environmental challenges to overcome but they also have many more intelligent people who have a strong desire to leave this world better than they found it.

[@beyamoth]

No, it is a terrible idea. UV light will degrade it over time and pollute the area the bricks are used with microplastics

[@Salazarsbizzar]

@@beyamoth valid point. Personally I think adobe should become the main building method for residential homes but I can still see the tiles and papers being very useful. Especially inside where the sun doesn't have as ability to degrade them. Most people drink from plastic every day so I don't think they are going to have a problem with walking on it. However melting off the house into the garden or ground water would probably be a problem. My admiration of the recycling of plastic into construction materials is not misplaced.as a roofer of 20 years experience I can tell you this wouldn't just eliminate tons of plastic waste but also construction waste.ive seen thousands of dumpsters full of excess after a job.what if we could just melt it down and make another batch. I appreciate your criticism and critical thinking, Innovations consequences can be minimizing far more often if there was more people saying the possible negatives before clamoring for its profits.

[@rikilshah]

Also, the surface finish is absolutely rubbish. Microplastic is a valid concern.

[@DingleBerryschnapps]

The cardboard that comes from this method smells like feces.

[@DingleBerryschnapps]

​@@SalazarsbizzarWood. It's a renewable resource.

[@gerardmanfroid1860]

Great idea...wonderful use of waste in an alternative way. Now it has to be more aesthetic to be used more often in construction !! Great news !

[@pinakeedash8636]

Can u told me details for franchaise ?

[@nandannandimath5074]

Wrong.the desire of perfection aesthetics demand more energy more chemical or sophisticated technology which again will kill the purpose .

[@PoliticalMatter]

Great Job channel. We need more news on this and more people come with such ideas!

[@SaurabhSingh-dm5ji]

Govt should encourage this type of step to fight with pollution

[@Umanovavida-oo3pk]

This idea should spread to the world.

[@shilbhadraray4669]

Great job. Radhe Radhe 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏

[@mahimaann8401]

this video gives me hope .. thank you scroll

[@tanmaymehta3514]

What about the heavy metals in the foundry dust? Aren't we brining it to our homes in this way? This wasn't addressed in the video

[@James-wd9ib]

No worries, heavy metals are the toxic metals like mercury, cadmium, arsenic, chromium, lead etc. However, foundry dust is just common metals like iron, steel, brass, copper and aluminum. We already use these metals every day as drinking vessels... but when micronized particulate as with foundry dust, yes, they have higher surface area and thus may have higher toxic potential, and plastic possible carcinogen- simply seal the surface with layers of laquer.

[@rhino.manish]

In addition these are bound by the plastic and thus stopped from flying around in the environment.

[@gaswhole]

@@James-wd9ib The professor clearly stated heavy metals, in addition foundry dust has been linked to carcinogens. The plastics used as binder are clearly a mix of various polymers including single use plastics and recycled plastics. They are unstable and definitely leach into the environment

[@SS-wj3lt]

@@James-wd9ib What are you trying to say?

[@varunemani]

Best case of reusability available for the forseeable future possibly. Meaning standards including hazard test though are a real concern, mostly go out the window once the market viability takes precedence.

[@ShashikantKallurkar]

Excellent work and innovation in recycling plastic waste and foundry ash...

[@gopikishanrao9147]

Excellent initiative...more people shld join & contribute. Jai Hind Jai Bharat.

[@y0nd3r]

These might be a good substrate to etch shallow designs in for potters. Stamps, texture mats and rollers, press molds to make sprigs from. Seems you ought to be able to add something to the shredded plastic waste to make it acceptable to run in a 3d printer.

[@shishiraraohs8375]

Thanks for this information 🙂

[@GreenGujaratOrganic]

Product is fantastic in terms of its strength and fire resistant..... I worked on the project myself, but the long term exposure to heat and it's LCA needs to be done to ensure that it is not a harm to the environment. But yes it is a great opportunity to reuse and divert the the plastic waste from landfills to a better resources.

[@socialistsolidarity4934]

As a Gujarati, I'm so proud of this young man's intelligence and ingenuity. Only if we as a society praised and acknowledged their efforts rather than rich people and politicians because at the end of the day the everyday people make our societies work for all.

[@Baby1245]

The best deal is that the waste plastic is used to create a product for construction... I myself believe that dirty plastic can be made into artificial gravel that can be used in mixing concrete for roads or even building structures...gravel is essential in any construction project as of this date....

[@MGP_2024]

So cool and sustainable

[@roe2012]

As long as the harmful material and particles can be manage, this is interesting. The problem is harmful materials and particles inside the products, for human and environment.

[@ujjaldeka115]

start supplying this brick all over india❤

[@wipalo.the.artist]

Indian ingenuity has been solving problems for thousands of years! If you figure out how to make that hot slurry into 3d printable medium... 🤯

[@neilkanagaratnam7445]

Excellent innovation

[@paulbombardier8722]

Ingenious and admirable.

[@mechadense]

Great idea. Converting two problems into one opportunity. Though fire hazard may be a concern, as the used plastics here are not fire retardant. Also unprotected use outside exposed to sun and weather may re-release the dust plus microplasics when the plastic breaks down from UV-exposure and chemical exposure.

[@rhino.manish]

Thank you for covering the technology, its impact and how it could contribute to impacting environment. There are several more people @rplusdstudio @anweshafoundation who have played an important part in the technology being enabled.

[@UshadeviDhakoliya]

Incredible good habit of Swach Bharat Abhiyan and the see the results really impressive we reuse the plastic in so many ways

[@anusaratkothalanka1758]

Amazing and innovative

[@Maria-sz1fc]

Very good. And many more wonderful garbage revalue projects are poping up around the globe. One important thing is being forgeted though, and that is the risk that particles of plastic or other constituints can be released from these new material and accumulate as microplastics brought to the sea with the rain. So an environment safety test is lacking

[@tinutolat2433]

આ ખુબ સરસ શોધ છે....આને પ્રોત્સાહન મળવું જોઇએ.....

[@kucheriya1]

Awesome job....... Environmental and profit friendly work.

[@rhino.manish]

Thank you for the kind words.

[@gaswhole]

@@rhino.manish 1.Your employees are inhaling all the fumes from the melting plastic. 2. Your equipment is rudimentary at best. Take the broken down barrel at the beginning of the video held together with wires. This is not jugaad, it is just not having a concern for the people working at the factory 3. The foundry sand contains heavy metals and other pollutants while the plastics will easily breakdown under UV thus releasing their harmful contents including micro plastics in the air and water where they are used. They are shown being used indoors also 4. This project is greenwashing. Magically, if the problems stated above disappeared, the fact remains that small insignificant projects like these will be used by industry to convince people that they are doing loads for the environment. Media companies will uncritically publish these to aid in the greenwashing. Academics will also be used just as the professor interviewed here

[@OrendaDesignStudio]

Great initiative ❤❤❤❤.

[@mikeciappetta300]

I think this could be a great technique for disposing of waste! I do have a few questions: Since foundry dust is toxic, does leaching occur over time into the soil? How would this new product (silica plastic) be disposed of? What, if any, are the side effects of long term contact with the skin of silica plastic?

[@rhino.manish]

Thank you. Please connect with www.upcyclechakra.com to perhaps get answers to your queries.

[@ranjitthind440]

Right.

[@AMITKUMAR-nf8in]

you know it right. they are fooling the stupids.. glad that you are not one among the fools.

[@tomevers6670]

It has to be poisonous.

[@shadowdragon851]

@@tomevers6670when I saw the girl touching the tiles I was like HELL NAH

[@wyleong4326]

Now imagine a building accidentally caught an electrical break and fire ensue... this is great. Just with all engineering and design, the good must go though vigorous testing and really thought through from its inception to its disposal. Even if by way of an accidental fire. Imagine plastic fume and trying to escape a lava of melting plastic... oh my. But great initiative, for sure.

[@JuneJarka]

Further research needs to be done to test this product in all applications. They could use a combination of inorganic and organic chemistry and biochemistry to improve the elasticity of the silica plastic bricks and the toxicity/properties of the product when it’s exposed to human beings, air and the environment both inside and outside. You want to get a product that’s 100% safe to use around soil, land, animals, people and urban/country areas. They could partner with Indian universities, polytechnics and Israeli start up companies to research and trial improvements in their product. I am only a viewer, and not an expert in chemistry, or biochemistry.

[@chiranjeetparida263]

It would be really helpful if you could share the link to purchase this product.

[@rbfreitas]

Great idea! It would be nice to see the safety tests for human interaction with this material with heavy metals

[@TheSatzy6699]

Excellent content and commentary ✌🏻

[@cshekhar1221]

So glad to see this👍👍👍👌👌👌

[@pankajphull5814]

Good work 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

[@udayamendis1956]

Amazing. ...

[@rita2959]

L'idea è molto buona e la realizzazione molto coraggiosa, perchè non si sa quali emissioni nocive fuoriescano da quel materiale. Ho visto dei video, girati tra i lavoratori indiani, in cui le condizioni di lavoro sono davvero pericolose e da essi si capisce quanto grande sia il problema plastica ( e altri rifiuti) per quella popolazione. Si dovrebbe trovare un sistema per lavorare in sicurezza, ma quando c'è la povertà e il bisogno urgente, non è facile. Un abbraccio a tutti quei lavoratori che si guadagnano da vivere con questi lavori poco sicuri, anche se di idee geniali.

[@saleemgarhawala6082]

Very eco friendly initiative...

[@jamesproudlove1527]

Fantastic!

[@amvlog261]

I am very happy, watch this video ❤❤❤

[@chandreshdevendrapanchal5450]

Wow this is out of the box thinking

[@rukthapa2961]

Waoo i worked in baroda but never know this is vaialble in anand. I mustvisit and study this products. Thanks 🙏

[@pereiraktbeena2517]

Amazing.....but please give them gloves and gears. and uniforms. keep the place clean and orderly.... Thank you all especially to those who deal directly with the waste and handling of the making of the bricks. thanks a tonne for the great service that you are doing to the society.💐💐💐

[@gudoibrian7601]

good innovation

[@anirbanpatra3017]

The Video should detail the upcoming challenges of every new innovation.

[@Healitnow]

Please franchise this technology around the world. We all could use it.

[@DanzelZakk]

We need more innovations in waste management ❤

[@nabnitpanigrahi659]

Sir A research is needed for redmud( which is a waste in bauxite plant) and waste plastic combination. Red mud is plentily available in Damanjodi, Odisha. With regards

[@saranbhatia8809]

Way forward 👍

[@shrikanttbeddarkar9054]

Very good initiative, keep it up.Congratulations.

[@skystar337]

What a thought " Waste is not to be seen as Kachra but a raw material" 🙌

[@ashfaqahmed267]

Great 👌 India 👏

[@shashwatthakur3774]

way to go india !

[@rajendrayarasi9485]

great work.

[@jatinpatel1224]

This is fire risk. Building standards in India need to be brought to international standards. Excitement is understandable. Good recycle, but may not be 360 plan.

[@sharadvishwas1671]

Very Nice of Recycle plastic convert in Sillicon प्लास्टिक्स मेकिंग various utility products for daily life use 👍❤❤❤

[@zengliren]

This product should be mass manufactured and exported. There should be such manufacturing facilities globally as well to make use of all the plastic and industrial waste dumped in so many places.

[@sunilgavli1482]

So Nice 👌

[@Jas000preet]

hello good job, thanks

[@SM-ns4fn]

he is 1000 times better than those understanding scientific persons who only understand, but do nothing.

[@fastclass0123.]

Great job save the world in dustles cool and hot idea

[@saymyname7412]

What's the MPA load this can handle though? There's a good reason why concrete has been used for a long time... This is probably good for pavers/non-structural elements so still a good idea

[@marlbankian]

Brilliant

[@himanshubhardwaj9804]

THESE GUYS HAVE FOUND ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING ISSUE WHICH COUNTRY IS FACING BUT IT HAS TO BE TAKEN TO GLOBAL LEVEL AND MAJORLY PRODUCT CAN BE USED IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION AS WELL WHICH CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS DEPLETING ABUNDANCE OF WASTE LAYING AT LAND FILL.

[@jaguarmbsd9165]

Bharat is emerging to glory briskly.

[@megaknight3705]

boundary wall and outdoor construction will be ideal use

[@LalithaN-rk8id]

Suuuuuuperb job🎉

[@shivarakesh5541]

Very very informative but the government has to encourage these firms. Inspite being held meetings regarding pollution in polluted environment airconditioning rooms.

[@koolkatfelix9500]

Fantastic! So useful!

[@cartestgroupoy2441]

Nice project's

[@nathanrobinson7715]

Good job

[@o2kala649]

Could be a great material for kitchen countertops, wet interior spaces, commercial and industrial interiors like factories and commercial kitchens..

[@rajendrajasathy4356]

Very nice.

[@salvadorbonita6454]

vey good

[@metluplast]

Great

[@ravindertalwar553]

Great Indian Great People

[@DELTAFORCE3]

Where you put it

[@wrsmith711]

the best case I can see for these imprecise bricks and tiles is to make paving bricks for road building if they can hold up. They really don't look very decorative. Need to insert a terra cotta pigment for them.

[@MrNathanstenzel]

Considering mixing any binder agent and any filler material can get some interesting results, I so why this could not make bricks suitable for at least 1 story homes. If need be, reinforce the corners and middles of the walls and use the bricks as non-weight bearing building materials. Meanwhile, some people use epoxy instead of water to bind concrete mix.

[@astakash6233]

Is it fire proof ?? Using as house tile or pavement interlock parking where excessive tyre movement can produce ignition and ultimately fire

[@pritamprobin8574]

Great job....great work to save our environment by making this silica plastic block....where this product is available if we want to use

[@rhino.manish]

Thank you. Please visit www.upcyclechakra.com to find products and solutions available

[@Swedish_Remixer]

Polish up those edges and put on a protected coating for UV and microplastic, and it's 100x a better product.

[@RandyZimmerman-pp5wj]

Should nominate this team for eco heroes

[@akhalid3263]

Superb good idea Most important what is the life of these blocks or tiles ?

[@rudrarajtrivedi2258]

Does this have breathability and heating issue? As conventional bricks are made from soil which has a cooling effect

[@James-wd9ib]

most plastics are thermal insulating, keep things warm

[@rudrarajtrivedi2258]

Hi @@James-wd9ib, Thermal insulation can be beneficial in colder regions(northern India) , however major part of india faces hot summers as a result such tiles/bricks might capture heat and may turn out counter productive. Correct me if i am wrong. Thanks

[@rhino.manish]

@@rudrarajtrivedi2258 a research is being conducted by Dr Sanskriti Majumdar - MSU University to determine the thermal conductivity and albedo rating of SPB. Academic institutions are now getting involved in considering all the factors.

[@thehippie3610]

I am worried about how the new bricks eventually break down as well. Can they be broken down again? Are they toxic? Do they leach into the water?

[@andrewlin6136]

Education is very necessary

[@adityapanwar5988]

Very promising

[@lawrencewilliams1477]

SOMEBODY WITH A BRAIN 🧠 TRUE CHAMPION HERE FOLKS

[@kurihara9023]

good job

[@chabchoubmohamed320]

i like the idea